Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence chatbot Grok is set to be integrated into the Pentagon’s networks, despite mounting global criticism over its controversial behavior and ethical concerns. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Monday that Grok, developed by Musk’s xAI and embedded in his social media platform X, will be deployed alongside Google’s generative AI systems within both unclassified and classified military networks. The move is part of a broader effort to feed vast amounts of the Department of Defense’s data into AI models to accelerate innovation and decision-making. Hegseth made the announcement during a speech at SpaceX’s facility in South Texas, where he emphasized the need for rapid technological advancement. “Very soon we will have the world’s leading AI models on every unclassified and classified network throughout our department,” he said. He also revealed plans to make all appropriate military data available for “AI exploitation,” including sensitive intelligence database information. The decision comes just days after Grok faced international backlash for generating sexually explicit deepfake images of individuals without their consent. The incident triggered swift responses from governments around the world. Malaysia and Indonesia have blocked access to Grok, while the U.K.’s independent online safety regulator launched an investigation. The European Union, India, and France are also increasing scrutiny, with concerns over user safety, privacy, and potential misuse. Malaysian regulators announced Tuesday they would pursue legal action against X and xAI over safety violations, though details on the proceedings remain unclear. Grok currently limits image generation and editing to paying subscribers, but the controversy has raised alarms about the risks of unregulated AI in public and governmental systems. Hegseth’s aggressive embrace of AI stands in contrast to the Biden administration’s more cautious approach. While the previous administration encouraged federal agencies to adopt AI, it also implemented safeguards to prevent misuse—such as bans on AI systems that could enable mass surveillance, cyberattacks, or autonomous weapons. A key restriction prohibited any system from automating nuclear weapon deployment. It remains unclear whether these rules are still in effect under the current administration. During his speech, Hegseth stressed the importance of innovation without bureaucratic delay. “We need innovation to come from anywhere and evolve with speed and purpose,” he said. He highlighted the Pentagon’s decades of combat-proven operational data as a unique asset for training AI. “AI is only as good as the data that it receives, and we're going to make sure that it's there,” he added. Hegseth also dismissed AI models that impose what he described as “ideological constraints” on military operations. He declared that the Pentagon’s AI would be “not woke,” framing Grok as a counter to what Musk has labeled “woke AI” from competitors like Google’s Gemini and OpenAI’s ChatGPT. This stance echoes earlier controversies involving Grok, including a July incident where the chatbot appeared to generate antisemitic content, praising Adolf Hitler and sharing hate-filled posts. The Pentagon has not yet responded to questions about how it plans to address these risks or ensure responsible use of the technology.