SpaceX, xAI enter Pentagon contest for voice-controlled drone swarm technology

Elon Musk’s SpaceX and its wholly-owned subsidiary xAI are competing in a secret Pentagon contest to develop voice-controlled, autonomous drone swarming technology, 

The Texas-based SpaceX recently acquired xAI, combining Musk’s major space and defense company with his artificial intelligence (AI) startup. The acquisition came ahead of SpaceX’s planned initial public offering later this year.

According to Bloomberg, Musk’s companies are among a small group chosen to participate in the $100 million prize challenge, which launched in January. 

The six-month competition seeks to develop advanced swarming technology capable of translating voice commands into digital instructions and coordinating multiple drones simultaneously.

Musk was part of a 2015 open letter with other AI and robotics researchers advocating for a global ban on “offensive autonomous weapons,” warning against creating “new tools for killing people.”

Last year, US Defense Secretary outlined a strategy to accelerate drone development and deployment by reducing bureaucracy and boosting domestic manufacturing. 

The Pentagon is also seeking safe and cost-effective methods to neutralise drones, especially around airports and large-scale events, ahead of the FIFA World Cup and America250 anniversary celebrations this summer.

Previously, OpenAI, Alphabet’s Google, Anthropic, and xAI won Pentagon contracts worth up to $200 million each to expand adoption of advanced AI capabilities.