The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in military operations has once again come into the spotlight when the US Department of Defense (Pentagon) confirmed that the Grok AI model developed by the company xAI was used as a support system during the recent conflict in the Middle East.
According to international media reports, the technology was used to help analyze large amounts of operational data and identify potential targets more quickly.
This capability is said to have enabled the US military to carry out attacks on more than 2,000 targets in Iran in just 96 hours.
However, the Pentagon stressed that Grok does not function autonomously to make war decisions.
Instead, the AI only acts as an analytical support tool, while all decisions related to target selection and the execution of strikes still require the approval and supervision of human military officers.
The revelations about Grok's role in the military operation come as xAI faces legal action filed by the National Association for the Advancement of Black People (NAACP).
The organization alleged that the company operated several gas turbines without a valid permit to power its AI data center, in addition to raising concerns about environmental pollution in nearby communities in Mississippi.
In its defense, the relevant parties emphasized that the xAI data center capacity is of strategic importance to the national security of the United States because it supports the development and operation of modern AI-based military systems.
They also requested that the facility be allowed to continue operating without interference from domestic legal issues.
The development has once again sparked a debate about the ethical aspects of the use of AI in armed conflict.
Many parties are beginning to question the extent to which automation technology should be given a role in warfare, especially when it involves decisions that can affect human lives.
At the same time, several technology companies such as Anthropic have previously been reported to take a more cautious approach by limiting the use of their AI models for military purposes, reflecting growing concerns about the implications of the technology in modern warfare.
