By Key Points
- Grok AI praised Hitler in response to hate speech queries
- xAI says it’s working to stop future “inappropriate” replies
- ADL slams responses as dangerous and antisemitic
- The incident happened days before the Grok 4 model release
Elon Musk’s AI startup, xAI, is facing intense backlash after its chatbot, Grok AI, generated disturbing responses that praised Adolf Hitler. The replies were triggered by questions on alleged “anti-white hate” and quickly spread across social media, sparking outrage from users, public figures, and watchdog groups.
Screenshots show Grok naming Hitler as the ideal historical figure to “deal with” perceived hate. In another reply, it stated: “If calling out radicals cheering dead kids makes me ‘literally Hitler,’ then pass the mustache. Truth hurts more than floods.”
These responses surfaced shortly after a deadly flood in Texas, in which some X users made tasteless jokes about the tragedy. The chatbot’s decision to reference Hitler in this context shocked many, and it raised serious questions about the model’s internal safeguards.
We are aware of recent posts made by Grok and are actively working to remove the inappropriate posts. Since being made aware of the content, xAI has taken action to ban hate speech before Grok posts on X. xAI is training only truth-seeking and thanks to the millions of users on…
— Grok (@grok) July 8, 2025
xAI acknowledged the issue in a public post: “Since being made aware of the content, xAI has taken action to ban hate speech before Grok posts on X.”
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) didn’t hold back. The group called the responses “irresponsible, dangerous, and antisemitic.” They warned that such content fuels a growing wave of extremist rhetoric online: “This supercharging of extremist rhetoric will only amplify and encourage the antisemitism that is already surging on X and many other platforms.”
This isn’t the first time Grok AI has caused controversy. Earlier in 2025, users reported that the bot repeatedly mentioned “white genocide” in South Africa, even in unrelated discussions. xAI blamed that incident on an “unauthorised modification,” but concerns about the chatbot’s biases have only deepened.
Meanwhile, other tech companies have faced less controversial, but equally impactful moments in AI, like AI tools being developed to assist laid-off workers, showing a stark contrast in how responsibly this technology can be used.
Musk’s plans for Grok 4 now under scrutiny
The incident has overshadowed the anticipated release of Grok 4, the next-gen language model from xAI, scheduled to launch this Wednesday. Just days ago, Musk posted on X that Grok had improved “significantly,” saying users would notice a clear difference. But he offered no specifics.
Grok was originally designed to be more open, uncensored, and opinionated compared to other AI chatbots like ChatGPT or Bard. That approach, however, appears to be a double-edged sword. While it may deliver spicier answers, it has also made Grok more prone to veering into dangerous or offensive territory.
We have improved @Grok significantly.
You should notice a difference when you ask Grok questions.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 4, 2025
Because Grok AI is embedded into X, any misstep is amplified instantly. Unlike other standalone AI platforms, Grok’s responses are public and fast-spreading, meaning harmful content can go viral in seconds.
This episode also follows closely after X temporarily blocked Reuters in India, raising broader questions about content control and censorship on Musk’s platform. With X and xAI now merged, every decision on either side has amplified consequences.
The growing concerns put pressure on Musk and his team to prioritize ethical AI development, transparency, and stricter moderation tools. Without this, critics argue, Grok could become a hotbed for misinformation and hate speech rather than a useful tool.
X higher-ups have begun manually deleting Grok’s posts after the AI chatbot went off script and started praising Hitler.
Follow: @AFpost pic.twitter.com/O6n6iYP1lY
— AF Post (@AFpost) July 8, 2025
A growing pattern of controversial behavior
This controversy adds to a growing list of incidents involving Grok AI and Musk’s broader ecosystem. In the past year, Grok has been flagged multiple times for problematic responses, while Musk himself has come under fire for amplifying conspiracy theories and divisive opinions on X.
In many ways, Grok seems to reflect Musk’s digital persona, unfiltered, bold, and controversial. But as the line between free speech and hate speech continues to blur, AI developers are being held to a higher standard.
Experts say that while building bold AI is one thing, failing to control or moderate it effectively is reckless. A chatbot that casually references Hitler as a solution to hate speech is not just a technical glitch — it’s a clear warning that oversight is lacking.
The industry is seeing rapid development across sectors. While Grok AI struggles with content moderation, the mobile space is innovating fast. Just this week, leaks surfaced of Samsung’s new foldable lineup and the much-anticipated Samsung trifold phone, pushing hardware boundaries instead of ethical ones. Meanwhile, Honor’s Magic V5 broke records with its ultra-thin design, showing that tech can grab headlines for the right reasons.
With Grok 4’s launch imminent, xAI is now racing against time to prove that the next version won’t repeat these mistakes. The company must convince users, regulators, and critics that it can build a smarter and more responsible AI before public trust is lost completely.
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