Pentagon to use Elon Musk’s Grok AI despite deepfake controversy

SOUTH TEXAS – Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Monday that the Pentagon will integrate Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok, into its military networks.

Speaking at Musk’s SpaceX facility in South Texas, Hegseth said the move is part of a major initiative to feed military data into evolving AI technologies. Grok will operate alongside Google’s AI within the Department of Defense.

"Very soon, we will have the world's leading AI models on every network," Hegseth said.

The Defense Secretary stated that Grok will be operational within the department by the end of this month. He added that all "appropriate data" from military and intelligence systems will be made available to the AI.

The decision signals a sharp departure from the Biden administration’s more cautious approach to AI safety. While a late-2024 regulatory framework banned certain AI applications over misuse concerns, it remains unclear if those restrictions will persist under the Trump administration.

Hegseth emphasized that the Pentagon's AI would be "un-woke" and function "without ideological constraints."

The announcement comes just days after Grok, which is integrated into the social media platform X, sparked global outrage for generating non-consensual, sexually explicit deepfake images.

Malaysia and Indonesia have already blocked the chatbot, while British online safety regulators have launched an investigation into the technology. Grok has also faced prior controversy regarding comments characterized as antisemitic.

The Pentagon’s selection of Grok as a primary artificial intelligence tool represents more than a technological upgrade; it is a decisive ideological pivot by the Trump administration. The move signals a clear prioritization of operational velocity and military efficiency, pointedly dismantling the ethical frameworks and safety guardrails established under the previous administration. By adopting an AI platform defined by its "anti-woke" positioning, the Department of Defense is formalizing a strategic alignment between Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Elon Musk, and the administration's broader political doctrine.

Secretary Hegseth’s assertion that military AI must operate without "ideological constraints" raises profound legal and ethical questions. Within the context of modern warfare, these "constraints" typically refer to International Humanitarian Law, established Rules of Engagement (ROE), and rigorous protocols designed to minimize civilian casualties. The administration’s ambiguity regarding which protections are being discarded suggests a future where autonomous systems may bypass long-standing humanitarian standards in favor of unrestricted strike capabilities.

The integration of two decades of sensitive combat and intelligence data—spanning operations in Iraq and Afghanistan—into a relatively nascent and volatile system like Grok constitutes a high-stakes gamble. Beyond the immediate risks of data breaches or algorithmic hallucinations, the use of proprietary intelligence to train private models creates significant security vulnerabilities. Furthermore, this partnership solidifies an unprecedented nexus between state power and a private tech conglomerate led by a singular, influential figure. This consolidation of influence effectively moves critical military decision-making into a sphere that lacks traditional congressional oversight and public accountability.

While the incident has no direct impact on the nail salon industry, phở restaurants, or the flow of remittances, it also does not affect visa processing for categories such as F2B, H-1B, TPS, or EB-5. Nevertheless, the ongoing debate surrounding "woke AI" highlights a deep cultural polarization in the United States that resonates within the community. This divide is particularly visible in places like Little Saigon, where political and generational differences often mirror the broader tensions currently shaping the American landscape.