SpaceX and xAI join a Pentagon project to develop voice-controlled drone swarms, marking a controversial shift in Musk's stance on autonomous weapons.
SpaceX, along with its artificial intelligence subsidiary xAI, is entering a classified Pentagon initiative aimed at developing voice-controlled autonomous drone swarms. This initiative, as reported by Bloomberg, marks a significant expansion for SpaceX in the realm of AI-driven weapons.
Despite Musk's historical opposition to autonomous weaponry, having previously signed an open letter advocating for a ban on such technologies, the company is now poised to participate in a six-month competition with a $100 million budget focused on creating advanced swarm technology. This technology is designed to interpret voice commands and manage multiple drones simultaneously, a challenging task despite existing capabilities for drone coordination.
The project will be executed in five phases, beginning with software development and concluding with real-world testing, reportedly for offensive operations. To support this effort, xAI has begun hiring engineers with security clearance in Washington and on the U.S. West Coast.
In a related development, the Pentagon has integrated the AI bot Grok into its network, with U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth promising to provide comprehensive data from military IT systems. The Department of Defense has previously allocated $200 million to various companies, including xAI, for AI advancements in security.
While SpaceX has been a defense contractor primarily focused on rockets and satellites, this marks its first foray into offensive weapon software. Other participants in the project include OpenAI, which is collaborating with Applied Intuition to create a mission control center that translates voice commands into digital instructions, although it will not be involved in drone control or target selection.
The Pentagon is intensifying its AI efforts, as illustrated by its new AI strategy that encompasses operational planning and targeting. Recent reports indicated that Anthropic's AI model, Claude, was utilized in a mission to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, but the Pentagon is reconsidering its contract with Anthropic due to ethical disagreements regarding the use of AI for surveillance and lethal operations.
With the U.S. Army pushing major AI firms to make their technologies available for all lawful purposes, Anthropic remains firm in its restrictions against autonomous weapons and surveillance of U.S. citizens. The Pentagon is reportedly moving towards recognizing Anthropic as a "supply chain risk," which would require contractors to ensure they are not using Claude, a significant concern given its widespread adoption among major firms.
