The Pentagon used Elon Musk’s Grok AI to launch over 2,000 missiles at distinct targets in Iran, according to a top defense official. This revelation emerged in a sworn statement defending Musk against a lawsuit alleging that xAI data centers are polluting Black communities. Cameron Stanley, the Pentagon’s chief digital and artificial intelligence officer, stated that the continued operation of Grok is a matter of paramount national security and that it was used to fire munitions within a 96-hour timeframe.
Stanley noted that Grok, a generative AI chatbot developed by xAI, is one of four AI models capable of supporting national security applications. He highlighted that Grok is equipped to support mission-critical operations in top secret settings.
This court filing appears to be the first explicit admission from a government official regarding the use of Musk’s AI in military operations, particularly in relation to the attacks in Iran. The Pentagon’s use of AI has drawn scrutiny, especially after U.S.-led strikes resulted in significant civilian casualties, including a recent attack on an Iranian girl’s school that killed at least 175 people.
Military investigators suggest that AI-driven targeting, along with human error, may have contributed to this bombing. Targets for Operation Epic Fury were identified with assistance from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency’s Maven Smart System, which utilizes AI to support military decision-making.
The Pentagon has stated that it relies on xAI’s Grok Gov Model, which is designed for federal agency use and includes features not found in other frontier AI models. A ruling that restricts xAI’s deployment and upgrades could severely impact Pentagon operations, according to the Department of Justice.
The Trump administration is pushing a federal judge in Mississippi to dismiss a lawsuit by the NAACP, which claims that Musk’s xAI is violating the Clean Air Act. The lawsuit alleges that xAI operates gas-burning turbines without the necessary permits, with the turbines powering the Colossus 2 data center.
Stanley remarked that these data centers are positioned to provide a critical surge in energy capacity during armed conflicts or other national security exigencies. He emphasized the importance of AI products in maintaining the U.S. technological advantage against adversaries.
In response to concerns about civilian casualties, several Democrats in Congress are proposing legislation to limit the military’s use of AI. A proposed bill from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand aims to ensure human commanders retain control over life-and-death decisions and to prohibit AI use in nuclear weapons, domestic surveillance, and autonomous weapons systems.
