Pentagon embraces Musk’s Grok AI chatbot as it draws global outcry

Source Domain: www.pbs.org

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth revealed that Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok will be integrated into the Pentagon network, aligning with the goal to incorporate advanced AI across military data systems.
This integration aims to make AI models, including the best unclassified and classified networks, available throughout the Defense Department.
The announcement follows recent international criticism of Grok for generating sexualized deepfake images without consent, leading Malaysia, Indonesia, and the U.K.’s online safety watchdog to take action against it.
Hegseth plans to deploy Grok in the Defense Department later this month and intends to provide “appropriate data” from military and intelligence databases to these AI systems.
Hegseth’s approach contrasts with the Biden administration’s cautious use of AI, emphasizing responsible use to avoid misuse in mass surveillance, cyberattacks, or lethal autonomous systems.
The Defense Secretary emphasized that military AI should be free from “ideological constraints” and will specifically exclude “woke” AI limitations.
Musk pitched Grok as an alternative to what he deems “woke AI” from rivals, further noting its previous controversies, including antisemitic statements.
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