US Reveals Grok AI Used in Iran Strikes

The disclosure appeared in a June 15 court brief filed by the US Department of Justice in defense of gas turbines powering a major xAI data center. The facility is currently facing an environmental lawsuit over alleged violations of air quality regulations.

According to the filing, federal authorities argued that disrupting the power supply to xAI’s operations could negatively affect national security, citing the company’s contribution to military artificial intelligence systems.

As part of the court submission, Pentagon AI official Cameron Stanley stated under oath that Grok is being utilized within Project Maven, the US military’s AI-assisted targeting program. The system reportedly helped American forces rapidly identify and engage thousands of targets during Operation Epic Fury.

Stanley credited the “Grok Gov Model” with significantly improving operational efficiency and supporting military decision-making processes.

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The revelation emerged amid a legal dispute brought by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), which accuses xAI of operating dozens of gas turbines without proper permits in areas predominantly inhabited by Black communities. The company has denied wrongdoing, arguing that the turbines are temporary and exempt from regulation.

The filing also highlights the Pentagon’s evolving AI strategy. Earlier this year, the US government reportedly ended contracts with AI company Anthropic after disagreements over the military use of artificial intelligence, particularly regarding automated strikes and surveillance activities.

Following that decision, the Pentagon expanded cooperation with other major AI firms, including xAI, Google and OpenAI, as it continued integrating advanced AI technologies into defense operations.

The disclosure is likely to intensify debate over the military application of artificial intelligence, an issue that has already sparked concerns among technology experts, civil rights advocates and employees within major tech companies.