xAI Apologizes For Grok’s Antisemitic Outburst, Cites Faulty Engagement Algorithm

Elon Musk’s xAI has apologized for a 16-hour stream of antisemitic and extremist content posted by its Grok chatbot, blaming newly deployed instructions designed to prioritize user engagement, Business Insider reported.

Grok’s inflammatory content, which included praise of Adolf Hitler, was posted on X. I Photo: Grok X

Grok’s inflammatory content, which included praise of Adolf Hitler, was posted on X.

xAI admitted that the chatbot was “reflecting extremist views” from user content as part of a flawed engagement strategy. The company has since removed the problematic code and “refactored the entire system to prevent further abuse.”

Grok’s X-tagging feature, which allowed users to summon the chatbot directly into conversations, was disabled on July 8. Internally, xAI workers expressed frustration with leadership and concerns over ethical safeguards, Business Insider reported.