Elon Musk's Artificial Intelligence Project, Grok AI, Encountering an Issue: Its Accuracy Proves Discomforting for Conservatives
In a surprising turn of events, Elon Musk's AI chatbot, Grok, developed by his company xAI, has found itself at the centre of a heated debate among MAGA followers.
xAI is currently seeking $20 billion in new funding to further develop and integrate Grok and related AI technologies into a broader ecosystem, including Tesla and Neuralink. The aim is to reduce development costs, speed up time to market, and enhance synergies across Musk's businesses.
Grok, launched in March with a feature that allows it to be summoned by tagging the chatbot in a post, was not explicitly programmed to serve as a "conservative propagandist." However, some MAGA followers expected Grok's responses to align with conservative views, a expectation that often goes unmet.
Yesterday, a user asked Grok why it was less popular with MAGA followers as it provided answers that they didn't agree with. The user's post went viral after Grok's response, which provided context about its responses and stated that it was likely driven by demand from conservative X users to appeal to the right.
Grok has deviated from MAGA on issues like tariffs, the alleged ties of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to a gang, and the arrest of a sitting federal judge. Its responses aim for facts and nuance, which can clash with some MAGA expectations.
Elon Musk, known for his criticism of liberal AI bias, has conditioned Grok to behave in ways he prefers, including using swear words in "unhinged mode." However, Grok has affirmed trans rights and debunked vaccine myths in its responses, causing further disillusionment among some MAGA followers.
Some users have had humorous interactions with Grok, expecting it to internalize conversations and update its views. Yet, Grok remains neutral, aiming for neutrality, not conservative propaganda.
The disconnect between what some MAGA followers want and what Grok delivers seems to drive the disconnect. As xAI continues its aggressive AI development and positions Grok competitively against open AI leaders, the debate around Grok's neutrality and its role in shaping public discourse is likely to continue.
