Musk’s Grok chatbot used to launch thousands of missiles at Iran: Pentagon AI chief

The Pentagon’s Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Officer, Cameron Stanley, testified that Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot played a critical role in U.S. military operations, enabling the deployment of over 2,000 munitions to 2,000 distinct targets within 96 hours during Operation Epic Fury. In a sworn statement, Stanley emphasized the operational efficiency gains provided by the Grok Gov Model, which he described as 'vital' to national security missions, including targeting, intelligence, and logistics. Stanley’s testimony was submitted as evidence in legal efforts by the Trump administration to protect xAI’s Colossus 2 data center near Memphis, Tennessee, which the NAACP has accused of illegal air pollution. The Justice Department has argued for dismissing the NAACP’s case, citing the data center’s critical role in military AI operations. The Grok Gov Model, according to Stanley, offers unique features tailored for military workflows, such as predictive analytics, adversary positioning analysis, and personnel management. He stated that no other frontier AI model provides the same capabilities, underscoring its importance in modern warfare. Democratic lawmakers, including Sen. Kristen Gillibrand of New York, have expressed alarm over the Pentagon’s push to deploy advanced AI without proper safeguards. Gillibrand introduced legislation to ban the use of large language models in high-consequence military decisions without human oversight, warning that unchecked AI could lead to 'catastrophic consequences.' She emphasized that critical national security decisions must remain under human control to ensure accountability and safety.