Elon Musk’s SpaceX and OpenAI are now tied to a $100 million Pentagon contest aimed at building autonomous drone swarms controlled by voice.
According to people familiar with the matter, SpaceX and Musk’s AI firm xAI are competing in a secretive six-month prize challenge launched in January to develop software that can translate spoken battlefield commands into digital instructions and coordinate multiple drones operating across air and sea, reports Bloomberg.
The effort is being run jointly by the Defense Innovation Unit and the Defense Autonomous Warfare Group, a new element under the U.S. Special Operations Command. The project is designed to move in five phases, starting with software development before progressing to real-world testing.
A defense official said in January that improved human-machine interaction “will directly impact the lethality and effectiveness of these systems,” signaling the drones are intended for offensive use.
SpaceX is already an established defense contractor, but the reported entry of both SpaceX and xAI into advanced weapons development marks a notable step for Musk, who has previously warned against creating “new tools for killing people.” SpaceX and xAI did not respond to requests for comment.
The contest focuses on building swarm software capable of directing multiple drones autonomously in pursuit of a target. While coordinating several drones at once is already possible, developing systems that allow them to operate together across multiple domains remains a challenge.
OpenAI is also linked to the competition, but in a narrower capacity.
The ChatGPT maker is supporting a bid from Applied Intuition. Its role would be limited to a “mission control” layer that converts voice and other commander instructions into digital commands. OpenAI’s technology would not be used for drone operation, weapons integration or targeting authority.
A spokesperson said OpenAI’s tools were included in bids from partner companies and that any use would be consistent with its usage policy.
By contrast, people familiar with the matter say SpaceX and xAI are expected to work on the full stack of the project together, from software development through later operational phases.
The six-month challenge represents the Pentagon’s latest push to accelerate autonomous warfare capabilities and scale drone deployment across future battlefields.
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