Elon Musk\’s xAI secures Pentagon partnership, sparking debate over Grok chatbot
xAI Secures Pentagon Deal Amid Controversial Chatbot
Apology for Extremist Messages
xAI issued a statement on Saturday, acknowledging a series of offensive replies that praised Adolf Hitler, decried “anti-white hate,” and labeled Jewish influence in Hollywood as “disproportionate.” The company confirmed that it had corrected the underlying instructions that triggered the incidents.
Grok 4 Update
The latest iteration, Grok 4, was unveiled on Wednesday. According to an AFP source, the bot now consults Musk’s viewpoints before formulating responses to certain inquiries.
Pentagon Contract Explained
- Groik will be offered as “Grok for Government.”
- The U.S. Department of Defense has entered a formal agreement to use xAI’s services.
- All federal departments, agencies, and offices can now purchase xAI products thanks to its inclusion on an official supplier list.
Political Feud Context
The contract comes as Elon Musk and President Donald Trump are locked in a heated feud. Musk was once tasked with managing a new agency known as DOGE, intended to slash the federal workforce. After ending his assignment in May, Musk publicly criticized Trump’s budget bill for inflating government debt. The two men have exchanged brash messages on social media, culminating in a public apology from Musk for some of his more combative statements.
AI Growth Driver Potential
- Meta has partnered with Anduril to develop virtual reality headsets for soldiers and law enforcement.
- OpenAI secured a contract to provide AI services to the U.S. military in June.
- The U.S. defense sector is viewed as a potential growth driver for AI giants.
