SpaceX, alongside its artificial intelligence subsidiary xAI, is reportedly participating in a significant Pentagon initiative aimed at developing advanced autonomous drone swarming technology. The competition, launched in January, spans six months and offers a substantial award of $100 million.
Defense Innovation Initiative
According to a report by Bloomberg News, SpaceX and xAI are among a select group of entities invited to compete in this Defense Department challenge. The program’s objective is to create systems capable of translating voice commands into digital instructions to manage fleets of autonomous drones.
Neither SpaceX, xAI, nor the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit have officially commented on the report, and Reuters has stated it could not independently verify the details.
Strategic AI Investments
This reported competition follows closely after SpaceX’s acquisition of xAI, a move that reportedly boosted the combined entities’ valuation to $1.25 trillion. The timing also coincides with SpaceX’s preparations for a potential initial public offering later this year.
The Pentagon’s interest in drone technology is part of a broader strategy to accelerate drone deployment, bolster domestic manufacturing, and counter unauthorized aerial activity. Heightened concerns over aerial security, particularly for large-scale events like the FIFA World Cup and America250 celebrations scheduled for this year, underscore the urgency of these developments.
The initiative aligns with the Defense Department’s increasing investment in artificial intelligence. In the previous year, major AI firms including OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, and xAI secured Pentagon contracts estimated to be worth up to $200 million each to advance AI capabilities for defense applications.
Evolving Stance on Autonomous Weapons
This development marks a notable shift from Elon Musk’s earlier public stance. In 2015, Musk joined other AI and robotics researchers in signing an open letter advocating for a ban on offensive autonomous weapons. More recently, however, Musk has shared perspectives on X (formerly Twitter) acknowledging the strategic strengths of drone technologies in combat scenarios.