WASHINGTON: Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok has been used by the United States military in operations against Iran, according to a legal filing submitted by the US government and reviewed by AFP.
The disclosure emerged in a June 15 court brief defending the power supply of a major xAI data center that is facing an environmental lawsuit. The US Department of Justice argued that shutting down the facility could negatively affect national security, economic interests and military operations that rely on advanced artificial intelligence systems.
According to the filing, Grok is currently being used within Project Maven, a Pentagon initiative designed to enhance military targeting through AI-powered analysis. The project was previously supported by AI models developed by Anthropic.
The government cited testimony from Pentagon AI chief Cameron Stanley, who stated under oath that Project Maven’s systems helped US forces deploy more than 2,000 munitions against 2,000 separate targets within a 96-hour period during Operation Epic Fury. Stanley credited xAI’s Grok Gov Model with improving operational efficiency and supporting military decision-making.
The revelation comes as xAI faces a lawsuit from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), which alleges that the company is operating dozens of gas turbines without proper permits, violating environmental regulations. The organization argues that emissions from the turbines disproportionately affect predominantly Black communities.
xAI has rejected the allegations, maintaining that the turbines are temporary and mobile and therefore do not require the permits cited in the lawsuit.
The filing also highlights the Pentagon’s increasing reliance on artificial intelligence technologies. Earlier this year, the US government reportedly ended contracts with Anthropic after disagreements over the use of AI for fully automated military strikes and domestic surveillance programs.
As competition intensifies among leading AI firms, companies including xAI, OpenAI and Google have become increasingly involved in government efforts to expand military AI capabilities, despite ongoing concerns from employees and civil rights advocates about the technology’s potential risks.