Truthfully, I’ve no understanding of whether or not xAI is in a first-rate place to safe authorities contracts, or if Elon Musk’s public feud with President Trump will derail any future alternatives.
In any occasion, xAI is clearly hoping for the very best, with the discharge of “Grok for Authorities,” a brand new suite of AI merchandise designed particularly for U.S. authorities clients.
As defined by xAI:
“Underneath the umbrella of Grok For Authorities, we shall be bringing all of our world-class AI instruments to federal, native, state, and nationwide safety clients. These clients will have the ability to use the Grok household of merchandise to speed up America – from making on a regular basis authorities companies quicker and extra environment friendly to utilizing AI to deal with unsolved issues in basic science and know-how.”
Which did seem to be the important thing alternative of Elon’s DOGE authorities effectivity mission, that it could give Musk’s personal firms the within monitor on future authorities contracts for custom-built AI methods.
However extra not too long ago, Musk has railed towards the Trump Administration, and its introduction of recent spending payments, which run counter to the entire mission of the DOGE mission. Musk has even vowed to launch his personal political get together in opposition to the Trump modifications, whereas Trump has threatened to chop off all authorities contracts and help for Musk’s firms.
Which looks like a nasty factor for xAI, and this new push to win future authorities offers, proper?
I suppose not.
xAI has already secured a partnership cope with the Division of Protection, whereas xAI merchandise have additionally been made out there for buy via the Normal Companies Administration (GSA) schedule, enabling all U.S. authorities departments to signal contracts with the corporate in the event that they select.
So perhaps the Trump/Musk feud is a smokescreen, a performative gesture to allow Musk to win authorities contracts with much less scrutiny over perceived favouritism.
I don’t know, nevertheless it does appear odd that on one hand, Musk is publicly denouncing Trump, on the danger of dropping all of his profitable authorities contracts, whereas on the opposite, he’s additionally searching for extra taxpayer cash, by way of partnership with the identical administration that he’s preventing.
And as famous, it did seem to be this was xAI’s key worth proposition, that Musk, along with his crew’s newly acquired data of U.S. authorities methods, would ultimately have the ability to safe profitable AI provide contracts, as a result of xAI would have the ability to construct extra personalized, specialised methods match for this particular objective.
That might guarantee longer-term viability for xAI, preserving the cash flowing in by way of these authorities offers. However then Musk and Trump fell out, and Elon instructed Trump to take his authorities contracts.
And actually, with out these offers, I don’t see how xAI will stay a viable proposition, as different AI tasks proceed to advance, and don’t endure from the identical ego-aligned modifications that Musk is imposing on his methods.
Principally, this new xAI for presidency providing makes good sense, and is essentially the most logical development for the mission. But when Trump and Elon are legitimately enemies, I’m unsure how xAI will have the ability to win extra authorities offers both approach.
