--- title: "Space Force Gets Scared, Pauses All Use of Generative AI" description: "The Guardians Have Spoken The brave Guardians of Space Force, the American military unit created to protect us feeble terrestrial Americans from various space-related-slash-launched threats, has announced a new — and very much Earthly — foe: generative AI. As Bloomberg reports, Space Force leaders have forbidden their Guardians — the unfortunate name given to the […]" date: "2023-10-13" modified: "2023-10-13" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/space-force-pauses-generative-ai" categories: - "Space" - "Space Force" tags: - "ai" - "space force" - "the digest" - "us government" --- # Space Force Gets Scared, Pauses All Use of Generative AI ![Space Force leaders have forbidden their Guardians from using generative AI tools like ChatGPT on government devices.]() *\Image: US Space Force\* ## Space Bots The brave Guardians of Space Force, the American military unit created to protect us feeble terrestrial Americans from various space-related threats, has announced a new and Earthly foe: generative AI. As [*Bloomberg* reports](), Space Force leaders have forbidden their Guardians — the unfortunate name given to the military branch's members — from using generative AI tools like ChatGPT on government devices, arguing that the web-based AI tools present security risks, among other concerns. In an internal memo obtained by *Bloomberg*, Space Force chief technology and innovation officer Linda Costa reportedly told Guardians that while generative AI "will undoubtedly revolutionize our workforce and enhance Guardian's ability to operate at speed," she emphasized that the tech must be integrated responsibly. Which, at least for now, seems to mean abstaining from using generative AI tools at all, with Costa citing "concerns over cybersecurity, data handling, and procurement requirement" in the September 29 memo, according to *Bloomberg*. ## Angry Guy Costa's reservations, particularly her concerns regarding sensitive US military data, are fair. When we use products like ChatGPT, our interactions are swallowed up into the ever-data-hungry models, stored and saved for training purposes; thus, if a Space Force Guardian were to, say, ask ChatGPT to drum up a report embedded with sensitive government information, said sensitive data could get vacuumed into OpenAI's system and out of the department's control. Our glorious Space Force also isn't the only prominent entity to ban generative AI. Companies including [Apple]() and [Verizon]() have prohibited the tech from corporate systems over similar data and privacy fears, and at least one major company, [Samsung](), has already experienced an embarrassing, chatbot-assisted data leak. But according to the *Bloomberg* report, some folks are apparently pretty peeved by Space Force's decision — namely, a guy named Nicolas Chaillan, the former chief software officer in the Defense Department and current founder and CEO of a chatbot company called Ask Sage. Claiming that his bot meets Space Force's security requirements, Challain told *Bloomberg* that the Guardians' decision is "short-sighted," adding that his tool has around 10,000 customers in the Defense Department alone. (Per *Bloomberg,* in a September email to Costa and other defense officials, Challain declared that not using his tech would "put us years behind China," though it's unclear how abstaining from using one dude's chatbot might have such an effect.) It's weird to imagine Defense Department employees using chatbots to write their reports. We never thought we'd say this, but: hats off to the Guardians. Responsible, thoughtful adoption of AI, especially when it comes to our government institutions, is and will continue to be incredibly important — and right now, it feels like they're doing things right. **More on the Space Force:** [*Top Space Force General Confused about Why Space Force Exists*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()