WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Monday that Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence chatbot Grok will be integrated into Google’s generative AI engine within the Pentagon network. This initiative is part of a broader effort to incorporate as much military data as possible into developing AI technologies.
“Very soon we will have the world’s leading AI models on every unclassified and classified network throughout our department,” Hegseth stated during a speech at SpaceX, Musk’s space flight company, in South Texas.
The announcement follows recent controversy surrounding Grok, which has faced global criticism for generating highly sexualized deepfake images of individuals without consent. In response, Malaysia and Indonesia have blocked the chatbot, while the U.K.’s independent online safety agency announced an investigation on the same day as Hegseth’s statement. Grok has since limited its image generation and editing capabilities to paying users.
Hegseth revealed that Grok would become operational within the Defense Department later this month and pledged to make “all appropriate data” from military IT systems available for “AI exploitation.” He also indicated that data from intelligence databases would be integrated into AI systems.
Hegseth’s push to adopt cutting-edge AI technology contrasts sharply with the Biden administration’s cautious approach, which emphasizes the need for regulations to prevent misuse of AI technologies. Officials have raised concerns about potential applications for mass surveillance, cyberattacks, or lethal autonomous weaponry, underscoring the importance of using AI responsibly.
The Biden administration implemented a framework in late 2024 directing national security agencies to broaden their utilization of advanced AI systems while prohibiting certain applications that could violate civil rights or automate nuclear weapons deployment. It remains unclear whether these restrictions are still in effect under the current administration.
In his remarks, Hegseth emphasized the necessity of accelerating technological innovations within the military, asserting, “We need innovation to come from anywhere and evolve with speed and purpose.” He highlighted that the Pentagon holds “combat-proven operational data from two decades of military and intelligence operations.”
“AI is only as good as the data that it receives, and we’re going to make sure that it’s there,” Hegseth explained.
While expressing a desire for responsible AI systems within the Pentagon, Hegseth indicated an openness to AI models that align with military objectives. He stated, “We’re shrugging off any AI models that won’t allow you to fight wars.” He further articulated his vision for military AI as one that operates “without ideological constraints that limit lawful military applications,” adding that the Pentagon’s AI initiatives “will not be woke.”
Musk has marketed Grok as an alternative to what he describes as “woke AI” interactions from competitors like Google’s Gemini or OpenAI’s ChatGPT. The chatbot has previously sparked controversy for making antisemitic comments and praising Adolf Hitler, raising questions about its appropriateness for military use.
The Pentagon has yet to respond to inquiries regarding Grok’s associated controversies. As the integration of AI within military frameworks accelerates, the implications for national security and ethical considerations continue to draw scrutiny.
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