Elon Musk's SpaceX and xAI are set to compete in a secret Pentagon contest to develop voice-controlled autonomous drone swarming technology, according to a report. The $100 million prize challenge, launched in January, will run for six months. The companies and the Pentagon's defense innovation unit did not respond to comment requests.
According to a Bloomberg News report on Monday, February 16, Elon Musk's Texas-based SpaceX and its wholly-owned subsidiary xAI are among a select few companies chosen for a new Pentagon contest. The initiative seeks to develop advanced swarming technology that translates voice commands into digital instructions to operate multiple drones simultaneously.
SpaceX recently acquired xAI in a deal that merged Musk's primary space and defense contractor with his artificial intelligence startup, occurring ahead of SpaceX's planned initial public offering this year. The competition, run by the Pentagon's defense innovation unit, offers a $100 million prize and began in January for a six-month duration.
Musk joined AI and robotics researchers in signing an open letter in 2015 calling for a global ban on 'offensive autonomous weapons,' warning against creating 'new tools for killing people.' In contrast, the US Defense Secretary outlined a strategy last year to speed up drone development and deployment by reducing bureaucracy and supporting domestic manufacturing.
The US is also pursuing safe and cost-effective methods to counter drones, particularly near airports and major sporting events, with heightened urgency ahead of this summer's FIFA World Cup and America250 anniversary celebrations. Additionally, OpenAI, Alphabet's Google, Anthropic, and xAI secured contracts last year worth up to $200 million each to expand advanced AI use in the Pentagon. Reuters could not independently verify the Bloomberg report.