The United States government has revealed that Grok was used in military operations involving strikes in Iran, according to a legal briefing seen by Agence France-Presse and reported by Le Monde.
The disclosure was made in a June 15 court filing in defence of gas turbines used at a data centre operated by xAI, which is currently facing an environmental lawsuit in the United States.
AI role in military operations
According to the briefing, the US Department of Justice argued that the lawsuit could threaten national, economic and energy security by limiting the power supply to AI systems that support defence operations.
Federal prosecutors cited testimony from Pentagon AI chief Cameron Stanley, who said Grok is already being used within Project Maven, a military system designed for AI-assisted targeting.
The statement added that the system contributed to large-scale operational activity, including the rapid deployment of munitions during what was described as “Operation Epic Fury”.
Shift in defence AI partnerships
The filing also outlined changes in Pentagon partnerships after ending contracts with Anthropic, which had previously supplied AI systems for military use.
Following that decision, the Pentagon reportedly turned to other providers, including Google, OpenAI and xAI, to support ongoing defence-related AI development.
Concerns over environmental and legal dispute
The case against xAI has been brought by the NAACP, which alleges that multiple gas turbines at the company’s data centre operate without proper permits and contribute to pollution in nearby communities.
The organisation argues this violates environmental law, while xAI maintains that the turbines are temporary and mobile and therefore not subject to the same regulatory requirements.
Growing debate over military AI
The report highlights growing tensions in the United States over the use of artificial intelligence in military operations, with critics raising concerns about automation, surveillance and environmental impact.
At the same time, US officials have argued that AI systems are becoming increasingly important for defence capabilities and operational efficiency.
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