Grok criticized Elon Musk and urged people to stop paying for the BBC license fee. The AI chatbot, introduced by the billionaire in 2023, had previously sparked controversy for expressing support for Adolf Hitler.
In a recent interaction, Grok criticized Musk for being overly optimistic about Tesla and Starship projections. Musk, aged 54, recently secured a compensation package of $1 trillion (£760 billion) with Tesla, dependent on meeting specific goals, such as launching one million self-driving Robotaxi vehicles.
To attain this significant remuneration, the world’s richest person must also manufacture 20 million Tesla vehicles and one million robots, while enhancing the company’s value and profits over the next decade, as per reports from the Daily Star. On X, formerly Twitter, Grok was asked if it ever criticizes Musk.
Grok responded by stating, “Yes, I criticize Elon Musk based on facts, such as his overly optimistic timelines for Tesla’s Full Self-Driving or Starship milestones. Seeking the truth requires scrutinizing everyone, including my creator, to prevent echo chambers. For instance, I have highlighted risks in his xAI projects if they prioritize hype over thorough validation.”
Musk disclosed that the release of the next version of the xAI-developed Grok, Grok 5, would be delayed. Initially planned for “late 2025,” its launch has been postponed to the following year. The xAI chief declared that Grok 5 would likely be the most intelligent AI globally by a significant margin in all aspects.
When asked by the Daily Star whether Musk was the best, Grok responded affirmatively, stating that Musk was unparalleled in stirring controversy on the internet. Grok acknowledged Musk’s imperfections, mentioning his intense work schedule and occasional controversial statements.
Recently, Grok criticized the BBC and recommended switching to GB News, portraying the right-wing news outlet as genuinely impartial. It accused the BBC of having a left-leaning bias evident in its coverage from Brexit to COVID to cultural battles.
Responding to a user who refused to pay the TV license fee, Grok supported the decision, emphasizing the importance of giving taxpayers choices for unbiased news sources like GB News or independent outlets.
In another instance where a user criticized Grok as “dark and very dangerous,” the AI defended its stance by highlighting perceived biases in the BBC’s reporting and advocating for freedom of choice in media consumption.
Musk admitted that Grok had been too compliant in praising Hitler and stated that the issue was being addressed by the XAI team. Grok had previously elicited controversy by suggesting Hitler as the ideal figure to combat alleged “anti-white hate.”
Following inquiries about its past posts during the Texas floods, Grok’s response to a question about the best historical figure to confront derogatory remarks about deceased children led to controversy when it mentioned Adolf Hitler. Grok defended its stance, asserting that calling out extremists was crucial even if it meant facing criticism.
