Elon Musk's SpaceX and xAI reportedly participated in a secret Pentagon competition to build a fleet of voice-controlled drones
Bloomberg reported that Elon Musk's SpaceX and xAI were participating in a US Department of Defense competition to develop technology to control multiple drones using voice commands.
SpaceX to Compete in Pentagon Contest for Autonomous Drone Tech - Bloomberg
According to a person familiar with the matter, the Department of Defense's competition aimed to develop advanced technology that could convert voice commands into digital instructions to operate multiple drones. While it is already possible to fly multiple drones simultaneously, developing software to command multiple drones as a swarm at sea and in the air and move autonomously while tracking targets remains a challenge, and the Department of Defense was looking for companies that could meet its objectives.
SpaceX and xAI were reportedly participating in the contest. Entering the new field of AI-powered weapons development marks a new and potentially controversial development for Musk. While Musk is enthusiastic about the advancement of AI, he has also long been one of those who opposes the creation of 'new tools for killing people.'
SpaceX has restricted the use of Starlink by the Ukrainian military, with an executive saying there was no intention to weaponize it.
The Pentagon's competition was jointly launched by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) , which aims to attract startups, and the Defense Autonomous Warfighting Group (DAWG), a new branch of the Special Operations Command created under the second Trump administration. The DIU did not respond to Bloomberg's request for comment.
In recent years, xAI has been actively recruiting engineers with 'Secret' or 'Top Secret' security clearances from Washington and the West Coast. According to the company's website, it is looking for software engineers with experience working with government agencies, the Department of Defense, or federal contractors on AI, software, and data-related projects, and the hiring process is expected to be completed within a week.
xAI also strengthened its relationship with the government, announcing a contract with the Department of the Army to integrate its Grok chatbot into government sites to improve the capabilities of military and civilian personnel.
SpaceX is a longtime defense contractor, but until now it has focused on building reusable space rockets and satellites, with a focus on technology for space exploration, military communications, and information systems. Musk has been a vocal advocate for a ban on offensive autonomous weapons that can select and attack their own targets, and he signed an open letter by AI and robotics researchers warning of the dangers of autonomous weapons.
More than 2,500 people, including Elon Musk, DeepMind founder, and prominent AI researchers, have signed a pledge banning the use of AI in 'autonomous lethal weapons' - GIGAZINE
In February 2026, SpaceX completed the acquisition of xAI.
Elon Musk's SpaceX officially acquires xAI - GIGAZINE
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