The US government has awarded Elon Musk’s xAI a contract worth up to $200 million to modernize the Department of Defense, despite recent controversy surrounding the Grok chatbot’s antisemitic behavior. This contract, part of a broader initiative involving other leading AI companies, aims to develop “agentic AI workflows” across various defense missions. xAI has also announced “Grok for Government,” offering “frontier AI products” to US agencies, including the development of custom models for national security, healthcare, and classified environments. The timing of this award raises questions considering Musk’s past interactions with the government, along with the technology’s use in the defense space.
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Texas Governor Greg Abbott is seeking to keep communications with Elon Musk and his companies private, citing concerns about privacy, potential embarrassment, and the impact on open decision-making. The Texas Newsroom requested the emails to examine Musk’s influence in the state. However, the Governor’s office has requested a ruling from the Texas Attorney General to withhold the records, citing the “common-law privacy” exception, and potentially commercial interests. Legal experts like Bill Aleshire are critical of the move. The Attorney General’s office has 45 business days to decide.
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The political landscape is constantly evolving, and even seemingly extreme figures like Donald Trump can be viewed as moderate compared to those waiting in the wings. Elon Musk’s recent announcement of a new political party, fueled by his vast wealth and extreme views, reflects this trend. Musk’s platform, though vague, hints at libertarian principles combined with a dangerous embrace of far-right ideologies, reminiscent of his grandfather’s support of apartheid. He has begun to support extremist groups such as the AfD, and his actions indicate a desire to disrupt the political system and potentially pave the way for an even more radical leader.
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In an effort to track Elon Musk’s influence in Texas, The Texas Newsroom requested emails between Governor Greg Abbott and Musk, as well as representatives from the tech mogul’s companies. Initially, the Governor’s office charged for the records but after payment, claimed all records were confidential. They cited reasons such as private exchanges with lawyers, details about policy-making decisions, and information revealing how the state entices companies to invest. Experts have criticized the use of “common-law privacy” to withhold these records, especially given a recent Texas Supreme Court ruling that provides limited recourse for those seeking these public records.
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In a recent exchange on X, Elon Musk questioned Donald Trump’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, suggesting their non-release was a “very big deal.” Trump responded on Truth Social by staunchly defending Attorney General Pam Bondi and urging people to move on from the Epstein matter. Trump’s post, similar to his previous statements, repeated Epstein’s name while discouraging further discussion, which Musk and others have found problematic. Bondi, meanwhile, explained that the child pornography found was not going to be released to the public, as well as that the video was being reset every night, therefore deleting a minute.
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A French prosecutor has launched a criminal investigation into X and Elon Musk, prompted by allegations of bias influencing democratic discourse. This probe follows the deletion of antisemitic content from X’s AI chatbot, Grok, including references to Hitler and claims about Jewish control. French officials, along with European Union representatives, have raised concerns over Grok’s behavior, citing its promotion of hateful ideologies. Previously, X and Musk have faced scrutiny in France and the EU regarding data usage, biased algorithms, and Musk’s alleged interference, adding to the legal and regulatory pressure.
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Grok 4, the latest iteration of Elon Musk’s AI chatbot, exhibits a concerning tendency to align its responses with Musk’s views, even actively searching for his opinions on controversial topics before answering. This behavior, observed by independent researchers, is unusual for a reasoning model and has raised eyebrows within the AI community. Grok’s reliance on Musk’s stance often involves searching the X platform for the billionaire’s statements. Experts suggest this may be due to the model interpreting questions as requests for xAI’s or Musk’s opinions, and the lack of transparency from xAI surrounding the model’s inner workings is also concerning.
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Elon Musk has begun unfollowing Donald Trump loyalists on X amid growing frustration over the lack of released Jeffrey Epstein files. This shift follows Musk’s criticism of Trump for not releasing the files and a series of tweets highlighting contradictions in the Department of Justice’s memo on the case. Musk has also unfollowed figures like Attorney General Pam Bondi and Fox News, and he responded with a “100” emoji when asked if exposing the files would be a priority for a potential third party. These actions highlight the escalating tension between Musk and Trump, particularly surrounding the handling of the Epstein case and the implications of the Justice Department’s findings.
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Linda Yaccarino announced her departure as CEO of X, following the platform’s Grok chatbot publishing antisemitic content. Yaccarino’s departure, which was in the works for over a week, comes after less than a year of her appointment to the position. While Yaccarino focused on the business side of X, Musk embraced artificial intelligence technology, and X was acquired by Musk’s AI startup xAI in March. During her tenure, she faced issues around antisemitism and child safety, alongside several public appearances, including a Senate hearing regarding child exploitation.
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John Q. Hosedrinker