capital · May 18, 2026
SpaceXAI Experiences Brain Drain with Over 50 Departures and Faces Gas Turbine Lawsuit
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SpaceXAI, formed after SpaceX acquired xAI in February 2026, saw more than 50 researchers and engineers depart since the merger including pre-training team lead Juntang Zhuang. Rivals Meta and Thinking Machines Lab absorbed at least 18 former staff members. The NAACP filed for an emergency injunction over nearly 50 natural gas turbines operating without air pollution permits at the Mississippi data center where only 15 of 46 turbines hold permits. Elon Musk’s culture of extreme deadlines contributed to the exits according to reports.
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