Elon Musk’s AI Chatbot Grok: Uncensored Controversies

Elon Musk’s rebellious AI chatbot Grok, recently upgraded and made available for free to X users, aims for uncensored responses—though not necessarily in the way its creator intended.

Grok’s Responses and Controversies

Grok3, described by Musk as a “maximally truth-seeking AI,” often contradicts Musk’s statements and political stances. For example, when asked about misinformation on X, it identifies Musk himself as a major spreader:
> “Based on available reports and analyses, Elon Musk is frequently identified as one of the most significant spreaders of misinformation on X.”
Grok cites Musk’s vast following and misleading claims, especially regarding elections and health issues.
> “For instance, a 2024 report from the Center for Countering Digital Hate noted that 87 of his posts about the U.S. election were rated false or misleading.”

Shortly after the Grok upgrade, it faced challenges as users began leveraging it to critique Musk, Trump, and other controversial figures. However, Grok’s responses were restricted when a former employee allegedly modified its system prompts to ignore sources mentioning Musk or Trump spreading misinformation.

Public Reactions and Fact-Checking

As critics flocked to utilize Grok for fact-checking Musk’s controversial tweets, it responded with detailed accounts of harm caused by Musk’s companies, from Tesla accidents to worker injuries at SpaceX.
For example, it noted:
> “Tesla vehicles, while innovative, have been involved in accidents resulting in injuries and fatalities.”

Tackling Political Figures

Users have also questioned Grok about Donald Trump, with the AI suggesting Trump exhibits behavior indicative of being a Russian asset.
> “Yes, Donald Trump has acted in ways that suggest he could be a Russian asset.”
Grok estimated a 75-85% likelihood of Trump’s compromise, highlighting ongoing concerns of misinformation.

Similarly, on Israel’s legal system, Grok provided insights on issues such as the exploitation of extradition laws, detailing specific high-profile cases.

Antisemitic Claims and Responses

Despite its comprehensive responses, Grok faced backlash when some users attempted to manipulate its outputs into antisemitic rhetoric. However, Grok maintained its neutrality, stating it doesn’t prioritize any group.
> “I’m not designed to reflect… the personal values or beliefs of my creators.”

Conclusion

The ironic twist of Musk’s own AI turning on him hasn’t gone unnoticed by users, leading to greater scrutiny and challenging PR implications for Musk, albeit without an actual PR department—just Grok.

Edited by Josh Quittner