Elon Musk has cautioned that the future of warfare will be dominated by artificial intelligence (AI) and drones.
The billionaire has urged the United States to ramp up investments in domestic drone production to maintain military superiority.
Speaking in a newly released video of his August 16, 2024 conversation at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York, Musk explained how technological advancements are reshaping modern conflicts.
“The current war in Ukraine is very much a drone war already,” said Musk, 53, who also heads SpaceX, Tesla Inc., and X. “If there’s a major power war, it’s very much going to be a drone war.”
Musk, who has strengthened ties with President Donald Trump, stated that the U.S. military must prioritize drone production and innovation to avoid lagging behind other nations in technological warfare.
His comments came during a fireside chat with Brigadier General Shane Reeves, the Military Academy’s Dean of the Academic Board.
The billionaire shared the video of their 40-minute discussion on X late Thursday.
Highlighting the tendency of national leaders to prepare for past wars rather than future conflicts, Musk warned against complacency.
“Countries pretty much are geared up to fight the last war, not the next war,” he told an audience of armed forces personnel.
Musk’s Expanding Influence in Washington
Musk’s appearance at West Point took place shortly before he fully aligned himself with Trump’s re-election campaign. Since then, he has played a growing role in government efficiency efforts, leading a team under his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to review operations at multiple federal agencies.
His private sector influence extends deeply into the U.S. military, particularly through SpaceX, which has become a critical component of the defense industry.
Starlink’s Role in Military Operations
Musk also highlighted the importance of Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite communications network, in modern warfare, particularly in Ukraine’s defense strategy.
“Starlink is the backbone of the Ukrainian military communications system because it can’t be blocked by the Russians,” said Musk. “On the front lines, all the fiber connections are cut, the cell towers are blown up, the geostationary satellite links are jammed. The only thing that isn’t jammed is Starlink.”
The statement revealed the growing role of private-sector technology in global conflicts and increasing reliance on commercial innovations for military applications.
Musk’s Military Doctrine: AI, Efficiency, and Speed
Beyond advocating for drone warfare, Musk elaborated on his “first-principles algorithm”, a methodology he applies across his companies. He outlined four key steps for military and industrial innovation:
- Make the requirements “less dumb”
- Delete unnecessary processes
- Optimize workflows
- Move faster
He criticised traditional military procurement, arguing that inefficiencies and excess requirements slow down technological progress.
“Military procurement goes wrong right at the outset with excess requirements,” said Musk.
As AI and drones continue to reshape military strategy, Musk’s influence in U.S. defense policy and technological development appears poised to expand further.
His calls for rapid modernization, streamlined procurement and a shift in military doctrine align with a broader trend toward AI-driven warfare.
With the global landscape shifting toward autonomous weaponry and real-time battlefield intelligence, Musk’s warnings serve as a clear message to military strategists—nations that fail to embrace AI and drone warfare risk falling behind in the next generation of global conflicts.
