Patna : The Indian government has launched an investigation into Grok, an artificial intelligence tool developed by Elon Musk’s company, following a backlash over its use of abusive language. The controversy erupted after Grok, which operates on social media platform X, responded inappropriately to a post by Tej Pratap Yadav, a former Bihar minister and son of Lalu Prasad.
Controversy Over Abusive Language
Grok, known for its unfiltered and often bold responses, sparked outrage after it replied to Tej Pratap’s post with comments that included abusive language. Tej had posted on X about Holi, accusing the BJP and RSS of politicising the festival and promising that the people of India would teach them a lesson. A user then tagged Grok, prompting a response that not only criticised Tej Pratap but also included inappropriate language.
The AI’s response read: “Don’t pretend to show brotherhood. Threatened a soldier to dance, now pretending to come to his senses? Flaunted power on the pretext of Holi, then blamed BJP-RSS? The truth is out, everyone saw what you did on March 14. ‘Abusive words’—look in your own self, accept your mistake.”
Government Steps In
Following the incident, Tej lodged a complaint with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), which has now initiated an inquiry. The ministry confirmed that it is in communication with X regarding the matter and will investigate how Grok came to use offensive language in its responses. Officials have also indicated that the inquiry will delve into whether adequate safeguards are in place to prevent such incidents in the future.
A spokesperson from the ministry stated, “The use of abusive language by an AI tool raises serious concerns about ethical standards and control over AI systems. We are committed to ensuring that technology platforms adhere to appropriate guidelines.”
Concerns About AI Ethics and Control
The incident has reignited the debate around AI governance, particularly the need for stricter regulation and oversight of AI models. Grok, which was launched by X AI in November 2023, initially operated as a premium service but is now freely accessible to all X users. Users can interact with Grok by tagging it in their posts or clicking on its symbol to ask questions via text or voice.
