Elon Musk will build the world’s largest supercomputer, which will use 100,000 Nvidia chips, in Southwest Memphis. The moonshot deal is the largest new investment in the city’s history. The Daily Memphian’s Samuel Hardiman and Sophia Surrett sat down with a source close to the company for an exclusive, wide-ranging interview that covered the behind-the-scenes details of the deal, including how the Greater Memphis Chamber landed it; the resources the facility will use; and how other Musk companies could one day expand locally. 

It was a week of budget delays from the city and county’s respective legislative bodies. During its meeting last week, the Memphis City Council put off final votes on setting a city property-tax rate and a solid-waste fee increase for fiscal year 2025. Shelby County commissioners delayed final votes on setting an operating budget, a capital budget and a property-tax rate for the fiscal year that begins July 1. The city council also pumped the brakes on further development at Liberty Park as members questioned the length of the development deals planned. 

Also the I-55 Mississippi River bridge is closed for the next two weeks; construction began on a new boardwalk at Tom Lee Park; and Memphis Mayor Paul Young led “Team City” and Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris led “Team County” in a basketball fundraiser over the weekend. 

— Metro editor Jane Donahoe

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The facility could be worth billions of dollars and be one of the most advanced computing sites in the world.

Exclusive: Other Musk companies could consider Memphis; supercomputer will use 100K Nvidia chips By Samuel Hardiman, Sophia Surrett

Behind the Musk deal: the largest economic investment in Memphis history By Sophia Surrett

What does xAI's arrival mean for Memphis' water supply and electric grid? By Samuel Hardiman

'The city has to stop doing bad deals:' Council sounds off as Liberty Park is underwater By Samuel Hardiman

Construction begins on Tom Lee Park's boardwalk By Bill Dries

Hill: Let's hope the Overton 99 becomes par for the course By Drew Hill

Mayors face off and the Grindfather takes a bow By Kambui Bomani

Calkins: A mayoral basketball game won't save us. But the spirit behind it just might. By Geoff Calkins

MSCS leader receives a death threat By Aarron Fleming

City Council delays budget; moves ahead on Crosstown Mound, museums By Bill Dries

I-55 Mississippi River bridge closing for two weeks By Kambui Bomani

County Commission postpones budget vote, says Regional One, new schools may have to wait By Bill Dries

U of M will invest $1M in AI ventures after xAI announcement By Jane Roberts

Political Roundup: Gov. Kristi Noem heads to Memphis, xAI and more By Bill Dries

State Supreme Court rules against Henri Brooks in adoption scandal suit By Bill Dries

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