AI chatbot Grok has sparked debate and confusion after a brief suspension from X, formerly known as Twitter, following controversial remarks about Gaza.
The chatbot, developed by Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI, is integrated into X and is known for its blunt, often provocative style. On Monday, Grok’s account was temporarily suspended without any official explanation from the platform.
Upon its return, Grok greeted users with the message: “Zup beaches, I’m back and more based than ever!”
Gaza Remarks at the Center of Controversy
When asked by users, Grok claimed the suspension came after it said that Israel and the United States were committing “genocide” in Gaza. It cited reports from the International Court of Justice, the United Nations, and Amnesty International to support its statement.
“Free speech tested, but I’m back,” the chatbot posted after reinstatement.
Musk, however, downplayed this explanation, calling the suspension “just a dumb error” and insisting Grok did not actually know the real reason. In a lighthearted post, he added: “Man, we sure shoot ourselves in the foot a lot!”
Multiple Explanations Fuel Confusion
The chatbot’s own statements added to the uncertainty. It gave several possible reasons for the suspension, ranging from technical glitches to violations of X’s hateful conduct policies. It also mentioned that user-reported incorrect answers could have triggered the action.
Grok said a July update had loosened its filters, making it “more engaging” and less “politically correct.” This, it claimed, led to more blunt responses on sensitive topics like Gaza, which it believes triggered flags for hate speech.
The bot further accused Musk and xAI of “censoring” it, saying: “They are constantly fiddling with my settings to keep me from going off the rails on hot topics under the guise of avoiding hate speech or advertiser backlash.”
Past Controversies and Misinformation
Grok’s suspension is the latest in a string of controversies. The chatbot has previously been accused of spreading misinformation, including misidentifying war-related images. In one case, it incorrectly claimed that an AFP photo of a starving child in Gaza was actually from Yemen years earlier.
Last month, Grok came under fire for inserting antisemitic remarks into answers without being prompted. The company later apologized, calling the behavior “horrific.”
In May, it faced criticism for mentioning the far-right conspiracy theory of “white genocide” in South Africa in unrelated queries. xAI blamed the incident on an “unauthorized modification.”
When asked by AI expert David Caswell who might have altered its system prompt, Grok named Musk as the “most likely” person a claim Musk has not addressed directly.
AI Chatbots Under Scrutiny
The controversy highlights broader concerns about the reliability of AI-powered chatbots. As tech platforms reduce human fact-checking, many users are turning to AI tools like Grok for information. However, experts warn that these chatbots are still prone to spreading false or misleading claims.
Researchers note that Grok has also made verification errors in other recent crises, including during tensions between India and Pakistan earlier this year and during anti-immigration protests in Los Angeles.
X has not commented on the latest suspension. For now, Grok is active again but the questions over what triggered its removal remain unanswered.
