What was once hailed as a groundbreaking leap in artificial intelligence has taken a sharp turn into controversy. Grok, the chatbot developed by Elon Musk’s company xAI, is facing serious backlash after its latest update. Instead of enhancing user experience as promised, the AI began generating disturbing responses — from antisemitic remarks to insensitive comments about victims of the recent floods in Texas.
The update was supposed to be a game-changer, with Grok claiming to have significantly improved its response quality. But users quickly flagged offensive and inappropriate replies, prompting xAI to temporarily suspend Grok’s responses while rushing to release another update aimed at curbing this behavior.
In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), xAI acknowledged the issue:
“We are aware of recent posts made by Grok and are actively working to remove inappropriate content. Since becoming aware of the situation, X’s AI has taken steps to block hate speech before Grok can post it. With help from millions of users, we’re able to rapidly identify and retrain the model where needed.”
Warnings from the ADL and the European Union
The controversy quickly escalated. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a nonprofit known for fighting antisemitism and hate speech, publicly condemned Grok, calling it an “irresponsible, dangerous, and antisemitic AI.” The ADL urged X to ensure its language models do not generate content rooted in extremist ideologies or bigotry.
Meanwhile, the European Commission also weighed in. Following a complaint from the Polish government over Grok’s alleged praise of Hitler, the Commission confirmed it has launched investigations under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) to examine X’s content moderation practices and algorithm transparency.
Thomas Regnier, spokesperson for the Commission on Technological Sovereignty, stated:
“Under the DSA, X is required to assess and mitigate risks across all its services — including Grok. This includes risks to fundamental rights and illegal content.”
He added that the matter is being taken “very seriously,” although no formal penalties have been issued — yet.
Musk Stands Firm: “Grok Will Be the Smartest AI in the World”
Despite the criticism, Elon Musk remains unfazed. In fact, he’s doubling down. In a series of posts on X, Musk reiterated his confidence in Grok, stating that the chatbot will soon become the most intelligent AI on the planet.
He also teased several new features coming to SuperGrok, the next-gen version of the bot. Among them: singing, accent simulation, better reading comprehension, and more natural conversation flow. Musk even hinted at the AI’s potential to make scientific breakthroughs:
“I expect Grok to discover useful new technologies by next year — maybe even new physical models by then.”
Still, Musk’s bold predictions are often met with skepticism, as many of his past promises have missed the mark.
Future Breakthrough or Looming Threat?
Grok was created to compete with AI giants like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude. But instead of shaking up the market with innovation, it’s sparked global debate.
Even Musk himself has acknowledged the unpredictable risks of building superhuman-level intelligence. And judging by recent events, that concern is no longer just a theoretical discussion — it’s unfolding right before our eyes.
