Pentagon Integrates Elon Musk's AI Chatbot 'Grok' Amid Global Controversy
The U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced last night that the AI chatbot Grok, developed by Elon Musk, will be integrated into the Department of Defense's (Pentagon) military networks, including both classified and unclassified systems.
Objective? To leverage artificial intelligence for unprecedented data analysis and processing within the military.
Speaking from SpaceX headquarters in Texas, Hegseth stated:
"Very soon, we will have the best AI models in the world operating on every network within our department," highlighting the current administration's eagerness to adopt modern technology more swiftly than the previous administration under former President Joe Biden, which had approached AI with caution.
This announcement follows recent global backlash against Grok for its ability to generate non-consensual deepfake images, particularly of a sexual nature. Countries like Malaysia and Indonesia have moved to ban the chatbot, while the UK's Digital Security Authority has launched an official investigation.
In response to these concerns, Grok has limited the capability to generate and modify images to subscribed users only.
Hegseth confirmed that the chatbot will begin operations within the Department of Defense later this month, with a commitment to make "all appropriate data" from military information systems accessible for AI use, including intelligence database information.
This strong direction underscores a shift in approach from the previous Biden administration, which had warned against the risks of AI in mass surveillance, cyberattacks, and lethal autonomous weapon systems, while encouraging agencies to develop safe and thoughtful usage policies.
