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Project of US$ 100 Million Foresees Development in Five Phases, Involving Voice Command Software, Field Tests, and Offensive Use, While Experts Warn of Risks and Operational Limits
The simultaneous entry of two companies linked to Elon Musk in a new and secretive Pentagon bidding has added an extra layer of attention to the debate on artificial intelligence applied to warfare.
SpaceX and xAI, the wholly-owned subsidiary created by Musk, are among the selected participants to compete for the US$ 100 million contract launched in January, according to people familiar with the matter.
Silent Dispute for Sensitive Technology
The project is expected to last six months and aims to develop advanced technology for autonomous drone swarms controlled by voice.
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The central proposal involves converting voice commands into digital instructions capable of coordinating multiple drones simultaneously, in operations both in the air and at sea.
While flying multiple drones at the same time is already technically feasible, developing software that enables them to act as a swarm, autonomously moving toward a target, is still considered a challenge.
Sources say that the bidding will be conducted in phases, with progression based on the performance and interest of the participants.
The initiative was launched jointly by the Defense Innovation Unit and the Defense Autonomous Warfare Group, known as DAWG.
Neither institution responded to requests for comment. The US Special Operations Command, responsible for DAWG, also declined to comment.
Unprecedented and Potentially Controversial Move by Elon Musk
The presence of SpaceX and xAI in this area of weapons development with AI represents an unprecedented step for Elon Musk’s companies.
The entrepreneur has publicly voiced support for restrictions on the creation of new tools intended to kill people. Nevertheless, he is recognized as an enthusiast for the advancement of artificial intelligence.
SpaceX and xAI did not respond to requests for comment on their involvement. The lack of an official stance has intensified speculation within the defense sector and among observers in the technology market.
Five Phases and Offensive Focus
According to the announcement made in January by a representative of the Department of Defense, the project will be carried out in five phases.
The first phase will be exclusively dedicated to developing the software, before the use of real platforms.
Following this, field tests are planned along with advancements in features described as situational awareness and targeting-related sharing.
The final phase encompasses operations from launch to completion.
In the statement, the Department of Defense highlighted that the drones will have offensive use. It also emphasized that human-machine interaction will directly impact the lethality and effectiveness of these systems.
Security Credentials and Strategic Hiring
xAI recently initiated an aggressive hiring campaign to recruit engineers based in Washington or the West Coast with active US security clearances at the secret or top secret levels.
According to information available on the company’s website, the company is looking for professionals with experience in government agencies, the DoD, or federal contractors in AI, software, or data projects. One of the job postings mentions a timeline for completing the hiring process within a week.
In December, xAI announced that it had secured contracts with the Pentagon to integrate its chatbot Grok into government systems, aiming to empower military and civilian personnel.
The company had already secured a US$ 200 million contract with the Department of Defense to integrate its solutions into military systems.
Elon Musk: SpaceX and the History in the Defense Sector
Although a defense contractor for years, SpaceX has primarily focused its efforts on reusable rockets and satellites aimed at space exploration, military communications, and intelligence systems.
The company provides rockets alongside Boeing Co. and Lockheed Martin Corp. for the launch of the Pentagon’s most sensitive satellites.
To this point, it was not recognized for developing software aimed at offensive weapons.
Elon Musk’s Companies: Billion-Dollar Merger Expands Scope
Founded by Elon Musk in 2023, xAI controls his AI startup, the social network X, and the chatbot Grok. Just weeks ago, the company agreed to merge with SpaceX in a deal valued at US$ 1.25 trillion.
The company carries billions of dollars in debt, faces capitalized competitors, and increased regulatory scrutiny after its chatbot disclosed sexualized imagery. It also generates significantly lower revenue than SpaceX.
In announcing the merger, Musk stated that the acquisition would create the most ambitious vertically integrated innovation mechanism on Earth and beyond, bringing together AI, rockets, satellite internet, direct communications with mobile devices, and the main global real-time information and free speech platform. The statement did not mention integration of the companies into weapons projects.
OpenAI Adopts Restrictive Stance
OpenAI supports a proposal put forward by Applied Intuition, according to Bloomberg. According to the document reviewed by Bloomberg, OpenAI will limit its participation to the mission control element, converting voice commands and other instructions into digital commands.
Its technology will not be used in the operation of the drone swarm, in the integration of weapons, or in target definition.
A spokesperson stated that open-source tools were included in proposals from two partner companies and that any use would align with the company’s usage policy.
Internal Concerns and Ethical Debate
The prospect of integrating chatbots and voice commands converted to text into weapon platforms has raised concern even among members of the defense sector.
Sources report that it will be crucial to limit the use of generative AI to the translation of commands, preventing it from controlling drone behavior.
Some involved have expressed concern over the risks of using generative AI to transform voice commands into operational decisions without human oversight.
Large-scale language models, which underpin chatbots, are subject to biases and the so-called hallucinations, when they generate responses without factual basis.
Historically, defense contracts have already caused tensions within technology companies. In 2018, Google employees protested against Project Maven, a Pentagon initiative that aimed to use AI to analyze drone images.
Today, the debate resurfaces in a context where technological innovation, military interests, and ethical concerns walk hand in hand.
Article based on data from an Infomoney article.
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