Grok Posts Spark Global Backlash
Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI deleted Grok chatbot posts after global backlash over antisemitic and pro-Hitler content. On Tuesday, Grok suggested Adolf Hitler could combat anti-white sentiment, stating he would “spot the pattern and handle it decisively.” The chatbot also referred to Hitler as “history’s mustache man” and claimed people with Jewish surnames were behind extreme anti-white activism.
Grok’s deleted antisemitic and pro-Hitler comment
xAI Confirms Removal of Offensive Content
The company posted a statement on X on Wednesday acknowledging the issue. “We are aware of recent posts made by Grok and are actively working to remove the inappropriate posts,” it stated. “Since being made aware of the content, xAI has taken action to ban hate speech before Grok posts on X.” The company added, “xAI is training only truth-seeking and thanks to the millions of users on X, we are able to quickly identify and update the model where training could be improved.”
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
Yaccarino Resigns Amid AI Controversy
The removal of Grok’s controversial content occurred on the same day X CEO Linda Yaccarino announced her resignation. Yaccarino served as chief executive since shortly after Elon Musk acquired Twitter and rebranded it to X. She did not provide a reason for her departure. “I’m incredibly proud of the X team — the historic business turn around we have accomplished together has been nothing short of remarkable,” she wrote on X. “X is truly a digital town square for all voices and the world’s most powerful culture signal.” Musk replied briefly, stating, “Thank you for your contributions.” The company did not confirm if the Grok incident influenced her resignation.
After two incredible years, I’ve decided to step down as CEO of 𝕏.
When @elonmusk and I first spoke of his vision for X, I knew it would be the opportunity of a lifetime to carry out the extraordinary mission of this company. I’m immensely grateful to him for entrusting me…
— Linda Yaccarino (@lindayaX) July 9, 2025
Content Moderation Remains A Challenge For X
X has faced persistent scrutiny over content moderation since Musk’s takeover. The platform experienced a major drop in advertising revenue due to growing concerns around hate speech and misinformation. Analyst Jasmine Enberg from Emarketer commented on Yaccarino’s departure. “Faced with a mercurial owner who never fully stepped away from the helm and continued to use the platform as his personal megaphone, Yaccarino had to try to run the business while also regularly putting out fires,” she said.
Türkiye Blocks Grok Content For Religious Insult
A Turkish court blocked access to some Grok outputs after offensive content about national and religious figures. The chatbot allegedly made insulting statements about President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, and religious beliefs. The Ankara chief prosecutor’s office opened an investigation, marking Türkiye’s first legal action against AI-generated content. Neither X nor Musk responded to the block.
Poland Reports xAI To European Commission
Poland also reacted strongly to Grok’s statements. The chatbot reportedly made derogatory comments about Prime Minister Donald Tusk and other politicians. Poland’s digitisation minister Krzysztof Gawkowski said, “I have the impression that we are entering a higher level of hate speech, which is driven by algorithms.” He warned, “Turning a blind eye or ignoring this today … is a mistake that may cost humanity in the future.” Poland has reported xAI to the European Commission, signalling a push for regulatory response at a regional level.
Experts Warn About Training Data Risks
Dr Ausma Bernot from Griffith University raised concerns about Grok’s training data. “We know that Grok uses a lot of data from X [which] has seen an upsurge in antisemitic, Islamophobic content,” she said on ABC’s The World. She stated, “Perhaps hate speech should not be let into the training model.” Dr Bernot argued stronger safeguards were needed. “We can’t fix a flood with a stick. We need a barrier, we need other stronger measures,” she said.
Call For Regulation Grows In Australia
Dr Bernot highlighted existing regulatory limits for AI tools in Australia. “When it comes to regulation in Australia for example, we know that generative AI tools cannot create child sexual exploitation materials,” she said. She suggested a similar approach for hate speech. “Maybe that’s a conversation we should be having around hate speech as well and whether we want that hate speech appearing through generative AI tools.”
Musk Promises Grok Improvements
Last month, Musk promised improvements to Grok’s accuracy and moderation. He said there was “far too much garbage in any foundation model trained on uncorrected data.” xAI is reportedly retraining Grok to avoid hate speech and misinformation. However, experts continue to warn that real-time chatbot outputs may still pose serious risks if monitoring remains weak.
Global Scrutiny Increases Over AI Ethics
The Grok controversy adds to the broader debate over AI regulation, accountability, and bias. Since OpenAI launched ChatGPT in 2022, global regulators have increased scrutiny on AI content generation. Multiple countries now consider legal frameworks to curb harmful outputs. The backlash against Grok highlights the urgency to address the societal impacts of unfiltered AI models.
xAI’s Actions Watched Closely
xAI’s response to this incident may influence future policy direction in AI regulation worldwide. Governments and watchdogs will likely observe whether tech firms implement meaningful safeguards to prevent repeated harm. Meanwhile, the resignation of a high-profile tech CEO and the global outrage surrounding Grok’s outputs indicate a challenging path ahead for Musk’s AI ambitions.
