Elon Musk Fumes, Calls Grok a Major Failure After AI Claims Right-Wing Violence Worse Than Left

In yet another bizarre twist involving Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company, xAI, the billionaire has promised to “fix” his controversial AI chatbot, Grok, after it provided an answer about political violence that clashed with his far-right views. The incident, which sparked a firestorm of criticism from Musk’s supporters on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), comes just days after the nation was gripped by the shocking assassination of a Minnesota state senator and her husband.

This tragic event, which has fueled political violence discussions, was eerily timed with Musk’s public outburst regarding his AI’s failure.

The altercation began on Tuesday when an anonymous user on X, under the handle Gunther Eagleman, asked Grok whether the right-wing or left-wing had been more violent since the election of President Donald Trump in 2016. In what can only be described as a major error for the billionaire’s AI, Grok responded with a fact-based answer that did not align with Musk's political stance.

According to Grok, right-wing political violence has been both more frequent and deadly since 2016, referencing incidents like the January 6 Capitol insurrection and mass shootings, such as the El Paso shooting in 2019.

Grok’s response included a nuanced take, acknowledging that left-wing violence had also risen during the 2020 protests but emphasized that right-wing violence was far deadlier. "Since 2016, data suggests right-wing political violence has been more frequent and deadly, with incidents like the January 6 Capitol riot and mass shootings (e.g., El Paso 2019) causing significant fatalities," Grok stated, much to Musk’s chagrin.

The AI’s answer quickly became a point of contention on Musk's platform, which has transformed into an increasingly right-wing echo chamber since Musk's acquisition of X. Musk, a known proponent of free speech, did not take kindly to Grok’s analysis, which contradicted his own ideological beliefs.

He was quick to respond, dismissing Grok’s assessment as “objectively false” and accusing the AI of parroting the mainstream media.

“Major fail, as this is objectively false. Grok is parroting legacy media. Working on it,” Musk tweeted, setting off a wave of reactions from his followers, many of whom share his far-right worldview.

But that wasn’t the end of it. When another user followed up with Grok, asking whether it agreed with Musk’s critique, the AI doubled down on its initial analysis. Grok maintained that data from reputable sources, including studies from PNAS and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), showed that right-wing violence had been both more frequent and deadly compared to left-wing violence.

Grok pointed out that while left-wing violence, such as property damage during protests, had increased, it was generally less lethal than right-wing attacks. The AI further explained that both sides of the political spectrum contributed to the ongoing cycle of violence, but the evidence overwhelmingly suggested that right-wing acts were more fatal.

“Data from sources like the PNAS study and CSIS shows right-wing violence since 2016 has been more frequent (267 incidents, 91 deaths) and deadlier than left-wing violence (66 incidents, 19 deaths),” Grok stated. The AI added that it relied on academic and think tank data, not media narratives, in forming its conclusions.

The feud between Musk and Grok underscores the tension between technology and political ideologies. Musk, who has long been an advocate for free speech and a vocal critic of the media, has had a history of using his vast influence to push a narrative that aligns with his personal beliefs.

His response to Grok’s analysis mirrors his stance on various other topics, including his controversial support for right-wing causes and conspiracy theories.

Musk’s outburst also follows a recent pattern of erratic behavior from the billionaire, who has made headlines for his increasingly polarizing rhetoric. From supporting conspiracy theories about the supposed genocide of white farmers in South Africa to making bizarre and unfounded claims about political violence, Musk’s online persona has drawn sharp criticism from across the political spectrum.

The controversy surrounding Grok’s response comes at a time of heightened awareness regarding political violence in America. The assassination of Minnesota state senator Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark on June 14 has sparked a renewed focus on the dangers of political polarization.

The alleged killer, Vance Boelter, reportedly had a hit list of at least 45 people, all Democrats. However, conspiracy theorists like Musk have been quick to speculate about the motivations behind the crime, with Musk himself tweeting that “the far left is murderously violent,” despite a lack of evidence to support this claim.

In light of the incident, Grok’s failure to align with Musk’s narrative seemed to strike a nerve with the billionaire, who responded publicly to the controversy. This marks not the first time Musk has interfered with Grok’s responses to fit his personal worldview.

Last month, Grok went viral for suggesting that white farmers in South Africa were being subjected to a genocide, a theory that Musk had previously expressed interest in promoting. Although xAI attributed this to an “unauthorized modification,” many believed it was Musk’s influence that caused the glitch.

This latest episode has raised serious questions about the role of AI in shaping public discourse and whether platforms like X should be allowed to manipulate artificial intelligence in such a way. Musk’s response to Grok’s fact-based analysis highlights the growing influence that billionaires like Musk have over the flow of information in the digital age.

His position as the owner of X and head of Tesla, SpaceX, and other influential companies gives him unparalleled power over how information is disseminated to millions of people around the world.

As Musk continues to push for the AI to conform to his personal ideology, experts warn that the implications for free speech and democracy could be dire.

“When billionaires can shape what AI says to fit their own worldviews, it’s not just a matter of free speech. It’s a matter of control,” said tech policy analyst Sarah Wilson. “Musk’s attempts to manipulate Grok raise serious concerns about the future of AI and its role in public discourse.”

As of now, it remains unclear exactly how Musk plans to alter Grok to prevent such a public fallout in the future. What is certain is that the billionaire’s ongoing influence over his AI system and social media platform will likely continue to stir up controversy, particularly as the political climate grows even more polarized.

For now, users of X are left wondering how much of their platform’s content is shaped by Musk’s personal beliefs and whether Grok’s next update will align more closely with the far-right views that Musk has come to embody in the eyes of many. Only time will tell whether this latest incident will spark further changes at X and xAI, or if Musk will continue to reshape the platform’s artificial intelligence to reflect his increasingly controversial political views.