Russian expert claims US AI Force creation mirrors Space Force model to benefit military-industrial giants
Alexander Stepanov of RANEPA suggests the new agency will prioritize high-tech contractors and government budget access
Quick Look
Military expert Alexander Stepanov claims the newly announced US AI Force follows the Space Force model, designed to benefit major defense contractors and tech giants like Palantir and SpaceX by providing direct access to federal government budgets.
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Why It Matters
Donald Trump announced the formation of an AI Force, comparing it to the US Space Force established in 2019. The initiative aims to address the rapid growth of AI as a critical sector for the US economy and national security.
MOSCOW, September 23. /TASS/. The creation of the US AI Force follows the logic behind the creation of the country’s Space Force, which was largely formed in the interests of Elon Musk’s SpaceX and key giants of the military-industrial complex, Alexander Stepanov, a military expert at the Institute of Law and National Security at the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), told TASS.
"This move, again, is comparable to the earlier creation of the Space Force, when entities de facto affiliated with [US President Donald] Trump’s inner circle became key contractors. The Space Force was created largely in the interests of Elon Musk’s SpaceX and key giants of the military-industrial complex, including Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and other companies that are implementing the US military-space program," the expert said.
Stepanov emphasized that the creation of the new agency legitimizes the participation of the largest US high-tech giants in government policy and will grant them access to massive US budgets. Among the key beneficiaries, he singled out Palantir, a major player in the field of security and intelligence analytics.
Stepanov also noted that the new organization will be headed by a person whom Trump himself has called the "AI Czar" – the nation’s digital leader. "It will be interesting to see who is appointed to lead this agency," he added.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump announced the creation of the AI Force, modeled after the US Space Force, which was established in 2019. "I am forming the AI Force, much like I did Space Force, which has been a tremendous SUCCESS, in my First Term. To that end, I will be announcing, in the near future, the AI "Czar" -- Only High I.Q. individuals need apply! AI is the next Industrial Revolution, or Internet, but will be even larger and more impactful, possibly as much as 25% of our Country’s GDP," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Appointment of an AI Czar by the Trump administration.
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- Who will be appointed as the AI Czar?
- What is the specific budget for the AI Force?
