Elon Musk Goes All In Again as Tesla SpaceX and xAI Hit Critical Turning Points

Elon Musk is back on his 24/7 grind.

On May 24, Musk announced that he’s returning to his famously intense schedule—sleeping in offices, server rooms, or even factory floors. Why? Because Tesla, SpaceX, and his AI startup xAI are all approaching key milestones.

He’s not just switching gears. He’s shifting his entire focus back to business, dialing down his political presence and stepping fully into his role as tech’s real-life Iron Man.

Musk Steps Away From Politics After a Rough Ride

Over the past few months, Musk had become deeply involved in politics, even launching a “Department of Government Efficiency” under Trump. But the results were messy—and personal.

Protests escalated. Threats grew violent. According to U.S. media, there were even incidents involving Molotov cocktails and gunfire aimed at Musk’s team. Public opinion also turned sharply: in a recent Washington Post/ABC poll, just 35% of Americans approved of Musk’s political role, while 57% disapproved.

Musk himself admitted in a recent forum that political involvement came with “personal costs” and produced little impact. “I think I’ve done enough,” he said, adding he plans to “significantly cut back” on political spending.

In a Tesla earnings call, he put it more clearly: starting next month, he’ll devote more of his time to Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI. “Unless Trump needs something, I’ll be focusing on the companies,” he said.

Tesla Bets Big on Robotaxis Not Cheaper Cars

Back in the business world, Tesla is pivoting fast.

Instead of pouring resources into a low-cost EV platform, Musk has decided to go all-in on robotaxis. He plans to launch the first wave of self-driving taxis in Austin this June—starting with about 10 vehicles in select areas. If the rollout goes smoothly, that number could ramp up to 1,000 within a few months and expand to cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco.

This shift is huge. Tesla’s stock growth is now increasingly tied to two big bets: its autonomous taxi network and its humanoid robot project, Optimus. With EV demand softening, these tech moonshots could define Tesla’s next decade.

xAI Is Quietly Building an AI Powerhouse

Meanwhile, Musk’s AI startup xAI is ramping up faster than most people realize.

He’s doubling down on AI infrastructure—ordering more chips from NVIDIA and AMD to power the next generation of large language models. Right now, xAI has already installed 200,000 GPUs at a data center in Memphis, Tennessee. Musk says this is now the most powerful AI training cluster in the world.

And he’s not stopping there. Another 1 million GPUs are on order for a second, undisclosed location. No details yet, but the scale of this investment puts xAI on track to become a major player in generative AI—fast.

This shouldn’t be a surprise. Musk has said before that chip supply is the “limiting factor” in AI development, and he’s clearly determined not to be caught short.

The Mars Dream Isn’t Dead Yet

Then there’s SpaceX—and yes, the Mars dream is still very much alive.

After two test flights ended in explosions, SpaceX has received approval to conduct its ninth Starship launch as early as next week. Musk has also teased a livestream from Starbase in Texas, where he plans to lay out his updated “Mars game plan.”

His sense of urgency makes sense. In 2026, Earth and Mars will align in a way that offers a rare, energy-efficient window to launch a mission. Musk has long said he wants to send a fleet of Starships to Mars during that window.

And while SpaceX’s Starlink satellite business is booming—it’s launched more than a thousand satellites this year—the company still faces pressure from NASA. To move forward with a lunar landing mission, SpaceX needs to demonstrate that Starship can fly humans safely in Earth orbit and complete in-space refueling.

Why Musk’s Comeback Actually Makes Sense

There’s a bigger story behind all of this.

Musk’s political adventure didn’t just fall flat—it came with backlash, personal risk, and damage to his reputation. At the same time, his companies are all hitting major inflection points. The timing couldn’t be clearer: he’s needed back at the helm.

So now, instead of fighting political battles, Musk is back doing what he does best—building rockets, robots, and the future of AI.

Whether this full-throttle return will work remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure: the next few months could define the legacy of the world’s most unpredictable entrepreneur.