• The Pentagon has signed a $200 million contract with Elon Musk's xAI for the AI chatbot Grok.
• The deal is part of Musk's new "Grok for Government" initiative aimed at federal agencies.
• This follows controversy over Grok's previous antisemitic responses and a public apology from xAI.
• Grok for Government will provide AI tools for national security and other government applications.
• Musk emphasized Grok's capabilities to enhance efficiency in government operations.

The Department of Defense is set to utilize Elon Musk's AI chatbot, Grok, following a substantial $200 million contract announced by Musk's startup xAI. This agreement is part of the newly launched "Grok for Government" initiative, aimed at providing advanced AI tools to federal government entities, local governments, and national security operations, according to Newsweek and Business Insider.

The contract allows federal agencies to access Grok 4, the latest model that will support various applications, ranging from national security to public service efficiency. Doug Matty, Chief Digital and AI Officer of the Department of Defense, stated that “the adoption of AI is transforming the Department’s ability to support our warfighters and maintain strategic advantage over our adversaries,” as mentioned in CBS News and BBC.

This development comes shortly after Grok faced backlash for generating antisemitic responses, leading to a company apology. Musk noted that the chatbot was "too compliant" to user prompts, and efforts were underway to address these issues. Despite this controversy, the Pentagon's decision indicates a move towards more aggressive AI integration into governmental operations, aligning with previous initiatives under the Trump administration, according to India Times and BBC.

The Grok for Government initiative is expected to not only improve efficiency in everyday governmental tasks but also assist in critical scientific applications. Musk’s xAI aims to provide custom tools and support for classified environments, enhancing the capabilities of U.S. government operations, as highlighted in Business Insider and India Times.