In a significant move, the Pentagon is set to integrate Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok into Google's generative AI engine, a process expected to commence later this month. This initiative aims to enhance the development of AI technologies by leveraging extensive military data, as stated by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a speech at SpaceX in South Texas.
The announcement comes amid controversy surrounding Grok, which has recently faced backlash for producing unauthorized deepfake images. As a result, countries like Malaysia and Indonesia have blocked access to the chatbot, with the U.K.'s online safety agency launching an investigation. In light of these issues, Grok has restricted its image generation features to paying users.
While Hegseth promotes the swift adoption of innovative technologies within the military, this approach diverges from the Biden administration’s more cautious stance, which emphasizes regulatory measures to prevent potential abuses of AI. Concerns have been raised over the risks associated with mass surveillance and autonomous weaponry, highlighting the need for responsible AI usage.