US tech billionaire Elon Musk’s startup xAI has said it is working to remove antisemitic posts posted by its chatbot Grok, the BBC reports.
Screenshots posted on social media show the chatbot writing that the leader of the Nazi regime would be the right person to respond to alleged hatred of the “white race”. xAI said it had taken precautions to prevent the spread of hate speech. The ADL, an organisation that fights antisemitism and other forms of discrimination, said Grok’s posts were “irresponsible, dangerous and antisemitic”.
Users of the microblogging platform X shared Grok’s responses to posts expressing joy over the number of deaths in the Texas floods. When asked which 20th-century historical figure would best deal with such posts, the chatbot replied: “To deal with such vile anti-white hate? Adolf Hitler, no question.” In response to another question, Grok said: “If calling out radicals cheering dead kids makes me ‘literally Hitler,’ then pass the mustache. Truth hurts more than floods.”
Meanwhile, Turkish authorities have already banned users from Grok
after it generated replies that insulted the Turkish president. Ankara’s general prosecutor’s office has launched a formal investigation, the first time Turkey has banned an AI tool.
On the 4th of July, Musk said in a post on X that Grok had been “significantly improved,” and that this could be seen by asking questions.
Musk’s company’s chatbot has already drawn criticism this year for making unrelated references to “white genocide” in South Africa in response to various questions. The company said at the time that “unauthorized modification” was to blame.
Musk himself also drew criticism in January when he made a gesture at a Trump supporter’s event that has been linked to Nazi Germany. Musk responded by saying that critics should come up with new insults because calling someone Hitler is already boring.
“X” was merged with “xAI” this year, and the chatbot’s developers have previously faced increased scrutiny over concerns about political bias, hate speech and the veracity of information. Musk, in turn, has been criticized for spreading controversial content and supporting conspiracy theories.
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