Key points
- Apollo, Nvidia, Snowflake and more than 130 firms joined the Super Intelligence Partner Network early.
- SpaceX’s AI unit reported a profit in the third quarter, primarily from renting computing power.
- Grok Bot paid weekly users doubled to over 800,000 in October, according to company leadership.
The short version
- SpaceX established the Super Intelligence Partner Network to help businesses deploy and build on its Grok AI model.
- Early members include major technology firms like Nvidia, data providers like Databricks, and consultancies like Bain.
- The launch follows financial results showing the AI unit surpassed Starlink in revenue and achieved profitability.
The details
SpaceX launched the Super Intelligence Partner Network to support companies that deploy or build applications using Grok. According to SpaceX, Apollo Global Management, Nvidia, Snowflake, Databricks, Bain & Company, and Booz Allen Hamilton are among the more than 130 firms that joined early. The program aims to help businesses integrate Grok across their operations.
Some partners will assist with enterprise-wide rollouts, while others will develop plugins that connect Grok to existing customer tools. Participants receive training and support from SpaceX. Their staff can also enroll in a course for forward-deployed engineers, who work directly inside customer organizations. Galatiq, a supplier of such engineers, is listed as a member of the network.
The context
The partner push follows a quarter in which SpaceX’s AI unit turned a profit. Bloomberg reported that the revenue was mostly generated from renting out computing power at Memphis data centers, rather than from direct Grok sales. SpaceX also stated that the AI unit had overtaken Starlink in total revenue. Growth in Grok’s business use is evident in its agent product. Grok Bot, launched in August, had more than 800,000 paying weekly users in October. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said on an earnings call that this figure is double the previous month. She described companies using Grok Bot as a force multiplier for sales, marketing, IT, and engineering workflows.
What to watch
SpaceX has historically trailed competitors like OpenAI and Anthropic in selling AI to businesses. Reuters reported in May that Grok had made little headway with US federal agencies. Recently, Elon Musk stated that Grok Bot would tap into Anthropic’s Claude model when it provides better results. SpaceX also closed a $60 billion deal for coding startup Cursor. Bloomberg noted that Apollo was among the first Wall Street firms to test Grok, having helped finance chips for SpaceX’s AI unit. The company continues to lean on firms close to Musk for early adoption and integration testing.
What it means for organisations
Teams should evaluate how third-party AI integrations fit into their security and vendor risk frameworks. When adopting new AI tools, verify the data handling practices of both the platform and its partners. Ensure that plugin development follows secure coding standards to prevent injection vulnerabilities. Organizations must clarify liability and support channels when using forward-deployed engineers from partner firms. Leadership should assess whether AI revenue models align with long-term infrastructure investments. Check if existing contracts allow for hybrid model usage, such as switching between different AI providers for optimal results.
What to do and how to stay safe: SpaceX
- Review vendor risk assessments for any new AI partners or plugins integrated into your workflow.
- Ensure data classification policies cover inputs sent to external AI models and their associated partners.
- Verify that partner-provided engineers follow your organization's security and access control protocols.
- Monitor for updates on hybrid model usage policies to understand data routing and privacy implications.
Step-by-step guide: Secure Home Routers for Small Business Networks
General security guidance from the TechSec Headlines newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.
Frequently asked questions
Which companies joined SpaceX's new Grok partner network?
Apollo, Nvidia, Snowflake, Databricks, Bain, Booz Allen Hamilton, Galatiq, and more than 130 other firms joined early.
Why did SpaceX's AI unit make a profit last quarter?
The profit was mostly from renting out computing power at Memphis data centers, not from selling Grok directly.
How many users does Grok Bot have?
Grok Bot had more than 800,000 paying weekly users in October, which is double the number from September.
