According to a report by Time magazine, former US President Donald Trump consulted the xAI-developed chatbot Grok during a secret meeting with Elon Musk in December 2025. Trump inquired about the potential public reaction in Venezuela if the US were to capture President Nicolas Maduro.
Grok characterized Maduro as an unpopular and oppressive leader, suggesting that many Venezuelans would celebrate his removal. This assessment reportedly aligned with street reactions observed in January 2026, following the US military operation that resulted in Maduro's capture.
The meeting occurred after tensions escalated between the two nations, following US military strikes on Venezuelan vessels starting in September 2025. While the report notes that the information comes from anonymous officials and does not confirm Grok as the sole driver of the decision, it highlights Trump's increasing reliance on AI for political analysis.
Grok has been integrated into US government and defense operations through the specialized Grok for Government version. This development raises concerns regarding the reliability of AI models in high-stakes decision-making, as their outputs are based on training data rather than traditional intelligence gathering.
Following Maduro's removal, Delcy Rodriguez assumed the role of interim president. By September 2026, Rodriguez met with Trump to discuss a transition toward democracy, though no specific election dates have been set. The incident underscores the growing debate over the role of AI in sensitive geopolitical and military strategy.
