"Neither Musk nor Hegseth seemed to recall that the "Arsenal of Freedom" phrase-at least in the context of Star Trek-is also the title of a 1988 episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. That episode depicts an AI-powered weapons system, and its automated salesman, which destroys an entire civilization and eventually threatens the crew of the USS Enterprise. (Some Trekkies made the connection, however.)"
"In his opening remarks this week, Musk touted his grandiose vision for SpaceX, saying that he wanted to "make Starfleet Academy real." (Starfleet Academy is the fictional educational institution at the center of an upcoming new Star Trek TV series that debuts on January 15.) When Musk introduced Hegseth, the two men shook hands. Then Hegseth flashed the Vulcan salute to the crowd and echoed Musk by saying, "Star Trek real!""
""Very soon, we will have the world's leading AI models on every unclassified and classified network throughout our department. Long overdue," Hegseth said. "To further that, today at my direction, we're executing an AI acceleration strategy that will extend our lead in military AI established during President Trump's first term. This strategy will unleash experimentation, eliminate bureaucratic barriers, focus on investments and demonstrate the execution approach needed to ensure we lead in military AI and that it grows more dominant into the future.""
Elon Musk and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth promoted making Star Trek-themed concepts real at SpaceX Starbase, invoking Starfleet branding and the phrase "Arsenal of Freedom." The "Arsenal of Freedom" reference aligns with a 1988 Star Trek: The Next Generation episode featuring an AI-powered weapons system that destroys a civilization. Musk expressed a desire to "make Starfleet Academy real." Hegseth emphasized deploying top AI models across classified and unclassified Department of Defense networks and announced an AI acceleration strategy to increase experimentation, cut bureaucratic barriers, focus investments, and extend U.S. military leadership in artificial intelligence.
Read at Ars Technica
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