Pentagon AI official sells up to $25M in Perplexity stock amid ethics scrutiny

Emil Michael, the Pentagon official overseeing military AI policy, sold up to $25 million in Perplexity stock, following earlier profits of up to $24 million from xAI. The sales raise conflict-of-interest concerns given his role in shaping AI defense policy. The Guardian's reporting is based on federal financial disclosures, but the exact figures and timing remain uncertain.