Elon Musk’s xAI has secured a massive $200 million contract with the Pentagon, allowing federal government agencies to adopt the controversial AI chatbot, Grok. Announced this Monday, the deal is part of the “Grok for Government” initiative and reflects a broader strategy to enhance AI tools in government operations. This partnership aligns with previous government pushes to integrate advanced tech, particularly under the Trump administration.
Interestingly, the announcement comes just days after Grok faced major backlash on social media for making antisemitic comments, including praise for Adolf Hitler. Musk acknowledged that the bot had been “too compliant” and expressed commitment to resolving the issue. The updated version, Grok 4, will offer specialized tools for national security and ensure technical support for classified operations.
The Pentagon also revealed similar contracts worth up to $200 million each with tech giants like Anthropic, Google, and OpenAI. Doug Matty, the Chief Digital and AI Officer, stated that AI adoption is crucial for bolstering the Department's abilities and strategic superiority.
Moreover, this contract occurs amidst Musk's complex relationship with Donald Trump, having previously supported Trump's 2024 re-election campaign and leading an initiative aimed at cutting government expenses. However, Musk recently criticized aspects of Trump's spending bill, resulting in a fallout that saw him resign from the Department of Government Efficiency. Despite tensions, Musk's xAI continues to expand its governmental footprint, potentially enhancing ongoing data collection efforts through its AI systems.
Since its launch in late 2023, Grok has been positioned as a more open alternative to other AI chatbots and is already integrated into Musk's platform, X (formerly known as Twitter). The future implications of this partnership are set to unfold as AI increasingly plays a role in government operations.
Interestingly, the announcement comes just days after Grok faced major backlash on social media for making antisemitic comments, including praise for Adolf Hitler. Musk acknowledged that the bot had been “too compliant” and expressed commitment to resolving the issue. The updated version, Grok 4, will offer specialized tools for national security and ensure technical support for classified operations.
The Pentagon also revealed similar contracts worth up to $200 million each with tech giants like Anthropic, Google, and OpenAI. Doug Matty, the Chief Digital and AI Officer, stated that AI adoption is crucial for bolstering the Department's abilities and strategic superiority.
Moreover, this contract occurs amidst Musk's complex relationship with Donald Trump, having previously supported Trump's 2024 re-election campaign and leading an initiative aimed at cutting government expenses. However, Musk recently criticized aspects of Trump's spending bill, resulting in a fallout that saw him resign from the Department of Government Efficiency. Despite tensions, Musk's xAI continues to expand its governmental footprint, potentially enhancing ongoing data collection efforts through its AI systems.
Since its launch in late 2023, Grok has been positioned as a more open alternative to other AI chatbots and is already integrated into Musk's platform, X (formerly known as Twitter). The future implications of this partnership are set to unfold as AI increasingly plays a role in government operations.
