SpaceX and xAI Enter Pentagon Contest for Voice-Controlled Autonomous Drone Swarms

Feb 17, 2026
Bloomberg.com
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Summary

SpaceX and xAI compete in a secretive Pentagon contest to develop voice-controlled autonomous drone swarms, marking a controversial shift for Elon Musk who previously opposed creating 'new tools for killing people.'

Key Points

  • SpaceX and its subsidiary xAI are competing in a secretive Pentagon contest to develop voice-controlled, autonomous drone swarming technology
  • The entry marks a controversial new direction for Elon Musk, who previously argued against creating 'new tools for killing people'
  • Musk announced in early February that SpaceX and xAI would merge, expanding their involvement in AI-enabled weapons development

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