WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 07: U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth speaks to the media following a closed door briefing with senators on the U.S. the capture of Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, at the U.S. Capitol on January 7, 2026 in Washington, DC. Maduro and Flores were taken to New York on January 3 after they were captured by the U.S. military in Caracas. They are being detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn and are expected to face federal charges related to narco-terrorism conspiracy. (Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images)

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Adeola Adeosun

By Adeola Adeosun

Weekend Night Editor

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Monday that Elon Musk's artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot Grok will be integrated into Pentagon networks, including classified systems, as part of a broader initiative to incorporate AI technology across the military.

Speaking at SpaceX headquarters in South Texas, Hegseth said Grok will go live inside the Defense Department this month and will join Google's generative AI engine in operating within the Pentagon's infrastructure.

Newsweek reached out to the Pentagon via email on Monday for comment.

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Why It Matters

The announcement comes days after Grok drew international criticism for generating highly sexualized deepfake images without user consent. The U.K.'s independent online safety watchdog Ofcom launched a formal investigation into X on Monday, citing "deeply concerning reports" of the chatbot creating sexualized images of women, girls and children. Malaysia and Indonesia have blocked the platform entirely.

Content analysis firm Copyleaks reported that Grok is generating "roughly one nonconsensual sexualized image per minute." Multiple high-profile women, including Princess Kate and conservative influencer Ashley St. Clair, have been targeted. St. Clair, the mother of one of Musk's children, told the BBC that Grok had generated sexualized photos of her as a child.

If found to have broken U.K. law, Ofcom could fine X up to 10 percent of its worldwide revenue or $24 million, whichever is greater. X has restricted Grok's image-editing function to paid users only and said it takes action against illegal content, though critics argue these measures don't go far enough.

What To Know

The defense secretary said his vision for military AI means systems will operate "without ideological constraints that limit lawful military applications," adding that the Pentagon's "AI will not be woke." Musk developed Grok as an alternative to what he called "woke AI" interactions from rival chatbots like Google's Gemini or OpenAI's ChatGPT.

Hegseth's aggressive embrace of the still-developing technology contrasts sharply with former President Joe Biden administration's cautious approach, which emphasized safeguards and responsible-use guidelines. The Biden administration enacted a framework in late 2024 directing national security agencies to expand AI use while prohibiting certain applications, including systems that would violate civil rights or automate nuclear weapons deployment.

It remains unclear whether these prohibitions are still in place under the administration of President Donald Trump.

Grok has faced multiple controversies beyond deepfakes, including July 2025 incidents where it appeared to make antisemitic comments praising Adolf Hitler.

What People Are Saying

Hegseth, on Monday: "Very soon we will have the world's leading AI models on every unclassified and classified network throughout our department. AI is only as good as the data that it receives, and we're going to make sure that it's there."

The defense secretary added: "We need innovation to come from anywhere and evolve with speed and purpose," while saying he wants responsible AI systems but is "shrugging off any AI models that won't allow you to fight wars."

An Ofcom spokesperson, in a press release shared to Newsweek via email: "Reports of Grok being used to create and share illegal non-consensual intimate images and child sexual abuse material on X have been deeply concerning. Platforms must protect people in the UK from content that’s illegal in the UK, and we won’t hesitate to investigate where we suspect companies are failing in their duties, especially where there’s a risk of harm to children."

Musk, responding to the U.K. investigation: "They just want to suppress free speech."

A smartphone bears the logo of Grok, a generative artificial intelligence chatbot developed by xAI, in front of the X logo, in Brussels on January 12. (Photo by Nicolas TUCAT/AFP via Getty Images)

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What Happens Next

Grok is scheduled to go live inside the Defense Department this month, though specific implementation timelines and security protocols remain unclear.

Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this article.

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