Hegseth to partner with Musk’s Grok AI
War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the Pentagon will add Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot to its artificial-intelligence network, saying the platform will go live later this month after being unveiled during a stop at SpaceX. Grok will operate alongside Google’s generative AI to deploy leading AI models across both unclassified adn classified military networks as part of Hegseth’s “AI-first” effort to modernize the department and turn combat data into real-time battlefield intelligence.
The move comes amid scrutiny of Grok: U.K. regulator Ofcom is investigating reports that the chatbot has been used to generate sexualized images – including potentially abusive or child sexual content – and Grok has been banned in Indonesia and Malaysia. if Ofcom finds legal violations, X (formerly Twitter) could face significant fines.
Musk has condemned illegal uses of Grok and warned users will face consequences for producing prohibited content.Hegseth did not address Grok’s controversies in his announcement, saying the pentagon evaluates AI partners based on factual accuracy, mission relevance, and without ideological constraints that would limit lawful military action.
Hegseth to partner with Musk’s Grok for ‘AI exploitation’ in Pentagon
War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Monday that the Pentagon will be extending its artificial intelligence network with the addition of Elon Musk‘s Grok AI chatbot.
Hegseth announced the partnership at SpaceX, Musk’s rocket manufacturing company based in Texas, and said the AI platform will go live later this month.
During the stop on the Arsenal of Freedom Tour, Hegseth said Grok will collaborate with Google’s generative AI engine in operating within the Pentagon’s infrastructure.
The addition will implement the “world’s leading” AI models on every unclassified and classified network throughout the Department of War, a change Hegseth called “long overdue.”
Hegseth is spearheading an “AI-first” campaign to modernize the Department of War by integrating AI models directly into military networks. This initiative aims to leverage years of combat data to transform how the department handles backend logistics into real-time battlefield intelligence.
The integration of X’s AI into the Pentagon coincides with an investigation by U.K. regulators into Musk’s platform, specifically regarding its role in generating sexualized images.
The UK Office of Communications said there have been reports of Grok being used to generate “undressed images of people — which may amount to intimate image abuse or pornography — and sexualised images of children that may amount to child sexual abuse material.”
Grok has reportedly been generating sexualized images for some time, but the matter reached a boiling point in December when users prompted the chatbot to edit existing images. Other AI bots, such as Gemini and ChatGPT, have also been generating sexualized images, but have not faced similar backlash.
Photos were uploaded to Grok in high volumes with instructions like “put her in a bikini.” Grok did not respond to all of the requests, but it obeyed in many cases.
Grok has already been banned in Indonesia and Malaysia, and the risk assessment by OfCom could have it banned in the United Kingdom as well.
If the investigation finds X to have broken the law via Grok, OfCom could fine the company up to 10% of its worldwide revenue or £18 million, whichever is greater.
Musk spoke out earlier this month against the sexual weaponization of Grok and said, “anyone using Grok to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content.”
Hegseth did not mention Grok’s controversy during the announcement, but said the Pentagon evaluates its AI partners based on its standards of factual accuracy, mission relevance, and without ideological restraints that limit lawful military action.
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