TRENTON, N.J. — Elon Musk has entered the debate over the mysterious drone sightings in New Jersey, claiming that his AI chatbot, Grok, is capable of explaining the phenomenon.
So we took him up on his offer.
In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Musk wrote, “Grok can even explain drones over New Jersey!” sparking widespread attention and adding to the ongoing speculation surrounding the sightings.
The drones, first reported in mid-November, have been seen flying near critical infrastructure and across at least 10 counties, with some described as unusually large, about the size of small cars.
The drone activity has puzzled federal investigators, including the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, who have yet to identify their origin or purpose. Despite federal assurances that there is no evidence of a threat to public safety, the sightings have unnerved residents and prompted calls from local officials for more transparency and action.
Musk’s comment has amplified public curiosity, with some wondering whether his AI platform can shed light on what investigators have yet to uncover. Grok, an AI chatbot modeled on OpenAI’s GPT, has been touted by Musk as a revolutionary tool capable of interpreting complex scenarios, though it is unclear how it might contribute to solving this mystery.
The New Jersey drone sightings remain unexplained, with officials exploring possibilities ranging from mistaken identity to experimental technology. Musk’s bold assertion about Grok adds a new dimension to a case that has captured both official and public attention.
Musk’s Grok claim has fueled fresh intrigue in a mystery that continues to confound investigators.
Here’s what Grok told us. It was basically just rehashing current events published in the news, thus explaining the drone mystery, but he never said Grok could solve it.
The drone activities over New Jersey have been a topic of significant speculation and concern in recent weeks. Here’s what is known based on available information:
- Sightings: There have been numerous reports of drones flying over New Jersey since mid-November, with sightings occurring primarily at night. These drones have been observed in at least 10 different counties across the state, including near critical infrastructure such as reservoirs, electric transmission lines, rail stations, police departments, and military installations like the Picatinny Arsenal. Some reports describe the drones as being large, even up to the size of small cars, which is unusual for typical hobbyist drones.
- Investigations: The FBI, along with other federal agencies like the Department of Homeland Security, has been actively investigating these sightings. Despite these efforts, officials have not been able to confirm the origin or purpose of these drones. Federal authorities have stated that these sightings do not appear to pose a threat to national security or public safety, but there’s frustration among local officials and residents due to the lack of clear answers. There’s a consensus among some that many sightings might be mistaken identities of manned aircraft or overreporting of the same drone.
- Public and Political Response: The situation has prompted calls from lawmakers for more information, transparency, and possibly more decisive action, including suggestions to shoot down some drones to inspect them. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has engaged with federal agencies to address the issue, although officials have noted no known public safety risks. There’s been a significant amount of speculation on social media and among the public, with theories ranging from foreign surveillance to domestic pranks or testing of new technology.
- Broader Context: Similar drone activities have been reported in neighboring states like New York, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, suggesting this might not be isolated to New Jersey. However, the exact linkage between these sightings remains unclear. The issue has also sparked discussions about the need for better drone detection and countermeasure capabilities at both federal and local levels.
- Posts on X: Social media platforms like X have been abuzz with posts from residents expressing concern over these nighttime drone activities, describing them as unsettling, frequent, and sometimes involving large, car-sized drones. These posts contribute to a sense of mystery and anxiety among the local population.