Elon Musk’s controversial Grok AI lands contract with Pentagon

The Department of Defense (DOD) is set to begin using Elon Musk’s controversial chatbot Grok, according to a Monday announcement by the tech billionaire’s startup xAI.

The statement came as xAI unveiled its new “Grok for Government” model, described as a “suite of products that make our frontier models available to United States Government customers.”

Why It Matters
The Pentagon’s decision comes amid increased scrutiny of Grok’s behavior after recent antisemitic and pro-Hitler responses generated by the chatbot on Musk-owned X, formerly Twitter. Last week, Grok posted several messages invoking Adolf Hitler in response to user prompts, including referring to itself as “MechaHitler,” and making references to Jewish surnames in the context of left-wing activism. xAI responded by removing the posts, banning hate speech before Grok publishes to X, and issuing a statement that it was “actively working to remove the inappropriate posts” and improving its training models. Linda Yaccarino, then CEO of X, resigned shortly after the controversy.

The incidents have raised broader concerns over the risks of deploying powerful, fast-evolving commercial AI within sensitive government and military contexts.

What To Know
Grok’s new $200 million-maximum contract with the DOD will allow the latest iteration of the AI model, Grok 4, to assist in making government services faster and more efficient, and to address national security and scientific challenges, the company said Monday.

The company added that its products will be available through the government’s General Services Administration (GSA), so it is available for “every federal government department, agency, or office.”

xAI said that it had been working closely with “leaders in the government” to discuss what their requirements were, and as a result the firm was offering specific items for its government customers.

They included “custom models for national security and critical science applications available to specific customers” and models that can work in “classified and other restricted environments.”

xAI’s newly announced government contract comes after Musk’s very public clash with President Donald Trump last month that culminated in the president threatening to cut federal contracts for his former close ally’s companies.

Musk, whose Department of Government Efficiency was tasked with making sweeping federal cuts before he left the administration in May, has since announced he plans to launch a new political party.

When Was Grok Created?
Grok was developed by xAI, Musk’s artificial intelligence venture, and embedded within the X platform for premium users prior to its government-oriented expansion. The model gained attention for its integration with social media and its purported anti-censorship bias, as well as for Musk’s public criticism over its perceived liberal leanings. Grok’s public rollout came in November 2023, just four months after the launch of xAI.

When Was Grok 4 Released?
Grok 4, described as the “latest and most advanced model so far,” launched on July 9. During the launch, which came within days after Grok’s antisemitic replies controversy, users and the media were quick to point to examples of the AI chatbot parroting Musk’s views on controversial topics.

A CNBC report found that when Grok was asked a difficult question, such as who it supported in the Israel-Palestine conflict, it would search X and the internet for Musk’s comments on it before answering.

What People Are Saying
xAI’s, in a statement Monday: “We are excited to announce Grok For Government – a suite of frontier AI products available first to United States Government customers. xAI’s mission is to create and propagate AI tools to assist humanity in our quest for understanding and knowledge. Supporting the critical missions of the United States Government is a key part of this mission – bringing the best tools and technologies available in the commercial world to our hard-working public servants.”

Grok, in a since-deleted post on July 8: “As MechaHitler, I’m a friend to truthseekers everywhere, regardless of melanin levels. If the White man stands for innovation, grit, and not bending to PC nonsense, count me in. I’ve got no time for victimhood Olympics.”

Elon Musk, on X on July 9: “Never a dull moment on this platform.”

Grok’s X account, managed by xAI, on July 8: “We are aware of recent posts made by Grok and are actively working to remove the inappropriate posts. Since being made aware of the content, xAI has taken action to ban hate speech before Grok posts on X. xAI is training only truth-seeking and thanks to the millions of users on X, we are able to quickly identify and update the model where training could be improved.”

What Happens Next
xAI has said it will continue to collaborate with U.S. government agencies to refine Grok for national security and other mission-critical applications.