Elon Musk’s SpaceX, along with its subsidiary xAI, is participating in a secretive competition hosted by the US Department of Defense to develop a voice command and control tool for deploying multiple autonomous systems.

This project, with a budget of $100 million and a timeline of six months, focuses on creating software capable of coordinating unmanned swarming operations across both air and sea domains.

The competition, overseen by the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit and the Defense Autonomous Warfare Group under the US Special Operations Command, will progress in phases. It will begin with software development and culminate in live trials, showcasing the effectiveness of the developed technology.

SpaceX and xAI’s involvement in this project signifies an expansion of Elon Musk’s defense endeavors, particularly in the realm of artificial intelligence-enabled weapons software. This development aligns with the Pentagon’s push to accelerate drone development, enhance domestic manufacturing, and streamline bureaucratic processes.

This initiative also responds to Washington’s demand for cost-effective counter-drone solutions. These solutions are crucial for protecting critical military and civilian infrastructure, as well as securing large public events from potential drone threats.

Furthermore, xAI, in collaboration with other firms like OpenAI, has secured defense contracts valued up to $200 million each in the previous year. These contracts aim to expand the integration of advanced artificial intelligence across various military systems, underscoring the growing importance of AI in modern defense strategies.

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