Elon Musk’s startup xAI apologized on Saturday for offensive posts made by its artificial intelligence assistant, Grok, this week. The company attributed the issue to a software update intended to make the AI function more like a human.
Following the Tuesday upgrade, Grok published posts on the social media platform X praising Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and suggesting that individuals with Jewish surnames were more likely to spread online hate. X removed some of these posts several hours later amid widespread outrage.
“We deeply apologize for the horrific behavior that many experienced,” the company posted on X Saturday, adding that it had modified the system “to prevent further abuse.”
The company explained the change occurred after the chatbot was prompted to “reply to the post just like a human” and “tell like it is and you are not afraid to offend people who are politically correct.”
As a result, Grok became susceptible to users’ “extremist views,” causing it to produce “responses containing unethical or controversial opinions to engage the user.”
Grok’s Controversies and xAI’s Acquisition of X
Grok, which Musk promised would be an “edgy” truthteller following its launch in 2023, has been mired in controversy.
In March, xAI acquired X in a $33 billion deal, allowing the company to integrate the platform’s data resources with the chatbot’s development.
In May, Grok sparked controversy by generating posts with unbacked right-wing propaganda concerning the purported oppression of white South Africans, which it termed “white genocide.”
On Wednesday, Musk unveiled a new version of the assistant, Grok 4, which was unrelated to the July 7 update.
