Questions are mounting over the limits of relying on artificial intelligence systems in political and military decision-making, following a report published by Time magazine shedding light on the role of the 'Grok' chatbot, owned by Elon Musk, in advice provided to US President Donald Trump regarding the Venezuelan file. The report opens the door wide to debate over the reliability of these tools when they move beyond commercial uses to enter the corridors of decision-making at the highest levels.

A Closed Meeting and Hours of Dialogue with Artificial Intelligence

According to the magazine, Trump held an undisclosed meeting with Elon Musk in December 2025, about a month before a US military intervention in Venezuela and the subsequent detention of its president, Nicolás Maduro. This meeting came months after Musk left his position within the US administration, where he had overseen what was known as the 'Department of Government Efficiency.'

A source cited by the magazine indicates that Trump spent hours in dialogue with the 'Grok' robot, posing specific questions, including how Venezuelans would react to the detention of their president. It is worth noting that these events came months after the start of US military strikes against boats in Venezuela, which were accused of involvement in drug smuggling operations.

What Did the Robot Say?

The report stated that 'Grok' told Trump that Maduro was a widely unpopular ruler, and that many Venezuelans might celebrate his downfall. When those celebrations actually occurred following the military intervention, Trump — according to the same source — came away with the impression that the robot possessed remarkable analytical capability.

Previous press reports had indicated that a number of users had already turned to 'Grok' to inquire about the strikes on boats and the political situation in Venezuela, reflecting the expanding reliance on these tools for interpreting current events.

A Growing Presence in the Military Domain

The role of artificial intelligence is not limited to political advice alone, as the artificial intelligence official at the US Department of Defense revealed that the military used a government version of 'Grok' in targeting operations and directing strikes during a previous military confrontation. This highlights a fundamental shift in the nature of reliance on these models.

Nevertheless, 'Grok' is not the only model serving the US military establishment, as the arena includes other parties:

'OpenAI,' which concluded an agreement to cooperate with the Department of Defense.
'Anthropic,' which engaged in repeated discussions regarding controls on the use of its models in the fields of intelligence and modern warfare.

Technical Partnerships and Future Dimensions

The data suggests that 'Grok's' presence may be further strengthened in the coming phase. The Department of Defense recently announced the appointment of Elon Musk, alongside Palmer Luckey, founder of 'Anduril,' to lead a joint study on how to employ advanced technologies on modern battlefields.

Challenges Beyond Technology

This development raises fundamental questions that extend beyond the technical dimension to the ethical and legal dimension. When artificial intelligence tools transform from an aid for research and analysis into an influential element in decisions affecting human lives and the sovereignty of nations, the issue of transparency and accountability becomes an urgent necessity. The most important question remains: To what extent can one trust the outputs of models that may be affected by biases in their data or errors in understanding context? It is a dilemma that will remain at the center of debate as the integration of artificial intelligence into the most sensitive domains accelerates.

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