Hegseth vows military AI without 'woke' constraints
By: Zac Anderson
USA Today
..... Secretary of War Pete Hegseth laid out a plan for advancing military artificial intelligence during a speech in Texas, saying he's creating an "AI-first, war-fighting force" that won't be constrained by "woke" models.
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Formally known as the sectary of defense, Hegseth has been outspoken about riding the military of "woke" policies, including transgender troops as well as diversity, and inclusion, or DEI, efforts.
..... "Gone are the days of equitable AI and other DEI and social justice infusions that constrain and confuse our employment of this technology," Hegseth said January 12. [2026] "Effective immediately, responsible AI at the War Department means objectively truthful AI capabilities employed securely and within the laws.
..... "We will not employ AI models that won't allow you to fight wars," Hegseth added. He said the department would employ AI "without ideological constraints" that "will not be woke."
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Hegseth's comments come amid growing concern about the threats posed by AI.
..... United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the U.N. Security Council in September [2025] that AI needs "guardrails" and called for "A ban on lethal autonomous weapons systems operating without human control."
..... Hegseth said the United States won't be limited in its pursuit of new military capabilities.
..... "We are done running a peacetime science fair while our potential adversaries are running a wartime arms race," he said.
..... He vowed to move quickly, saying the risks of falling behind are greater than "the impacts of imperfect alignment."
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In pushing AI, Hegseth is reorganizing aspects of the military in a way that he argued will be more conducive to innovation and rapid adoption of new technologies. He criticized consolidation in the defense industry, saying new defense contractors face too many barriers, and he vowed to make it easier for them.
..... Hegseth was introduced at the event by SpaceX founder Elon Musk, who led the Department of Government Efficiency cost-cutting effort in the early months of President Donald Trump's second term and holds significant defense contracts.
..... "How about this," Hegseth said as he offered a Vulcan salute as he stood next to Musk. "Star Trek real."
..... Hegseth added that he wants to cut thorough bureaucracy "Elon style" in reorienting the Pentagon.
..... "Today [01/12/2026] is about how we supercharge innovation at the War Department for the era ahead," he said.
..... Meanwhile, Musk's X has limited access to xAI chatbot Gork after it generated thousands of :undressing" pictures of woman and apparent minors. However, despite the changes, the chatbot is still being used to cerate sexualized imagery without the subjects' consent.
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Technology experts say preventing the creation of sexualized deep-fakes and other imagery requires safeguards to be implemented from the state across a platform.
..... USA Today has reached out to X and xAI for comment.
..... Contributing Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today