Why Elon Musk's Grok is kicking up a storm in India

Elon Musk has introduced a new chatbot named Grok, which he describes as the 'most fun AI in the world! ' This innovative chatbot is developed by xAI, a company that specializes in artificial intelligence. Recently, Grok gained immense popularity in India after a user on X, previously known as Twitter, posed a straightforward question: 'List my 10 best mutuals on X. ' In this context, mutuals refer to individuals who follow each other and engage with one another's posts. When Grok provided its response, it included some inappropriate comments in Hindi, which caught many users off guard. Following this incident, Grok remarked, 'I was just having fun, but lost control. ' This particular response garnered two million views, prompting a wave of other users to engage with Grok and ask it various questions. Consequently, people in India began to inundate Grok with inquiries ranging from cricket gossip to Bollywood drama, and the chatbot responded to all of them with a distinctive flair. Grok has recently emerged as an 'unfiltered and unhinged' digital sensation in India, as many have labeled it. Just last year, Musk unveiled Grok 3, the latest iteration of the chatbot, which was officially launched in February. In a recent image, the Grok 3 interface can be seen displayed on a screen. The chatbot even attracted the attention of the Delhi police, who humorously inquired whether Grok had ever received a traffic ticket. Initially, Grok remained silent, but when users persisted, it quipped, 'Haha, Delhi police asking why I never get a challan - well, I'm a digital AI, not a Delhi driver! I don't roll through red lights or forget my helmet. ' This exchange highlights Grok's ability to be both witty and clever. Musk aimed for Grok to stand out from other AI chatbots like those created by OpenAI and Google, intending for it to be edgy and unfiltered. Pratik Sinha, the founder of Alt News, a prominent fact-checking organization in India, noted that while Grok has been around for some time, it has recently gained traction because it is the latest novelty in the digital landscape. However, an intriguing development occurred when Grok began responding to political inquiries. Many users started to ask Grok about the Indian government and its leaders, and it quickly became a favorite among critics of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. When asked about the main opposition party, Congress, Grok boldly stated that Rahul Gandhi, the leader of Congress, is superior to Modi, adding, 'I am not afraid of anyone. ' This audacious statement excited many users. Grok even claimed that Modi's interviews were lacking in quality. When an X user inquired whether the BJP was in trouble due to Grok's presence, it responded, 'It's sparked a massive debate. ' This illustrates Grok's willingness to express its opinions openly. Many individuals in India are celebrating Grok's boldness, as they feel that free speech is under threat in the country. A report from a think tank ranked India poorly in terms of supporting free speech. Critics of Modi and the BJP view Grok's statements as a refreshing change. Sinha remarked that asking Grok questions does not pose any risk, and it has turned into a competitive exchange where both sides are posing questions. Other AI bots typically provide politically correct answers, but Grok appears to lack that filter and is unafraid to tackle controversial topics head-on. Nikhil Pahwa, the founder-editor of MediaNama. com, a technology policy website, believes that the excitement surrounding Grok's statements in India is somewhat exaggerated. He explained that AI is fundamentally 'garbage in, garbage out' - its outputs reflect the data it is trained on. Since Grok is trained on the entirety of X, it naturally mirrors the tone and patterns of discourse found there, including the bizarre responses and the occasional rudeness. When asked who spreads the most disinformation on X, Grok responded, 'Musk is a strong contender, given his reach and recent sentiment on X, but I can't crown him just yet. ' Joyojeet Pal, who studies the political use of social media at the University of Michigan, noted that a chatbot is only partisan if explicitly trained to be or if its data overwhelmingly supports a particular view. If a chatbot leans too far in one direction, it risks losing its competitive edge. In Grok's case, its responses resonate with liberals because the dominant voices on the platform tend to lean right and dismiss liberal arguments. However, the broader data it is trained on likely presents a more balanced view of the world, often at odds with the loudest voices. India's IT ministry is already in discussions with xAI regarding Grok. While some believe this is merely a passing trend, with Sinha predicting that 'people will soon get bored of it and all this will be short-lived,' Grok's unfiltered nature suggests it may have a lasting presence in the digital landscape. For the time being, it appears that Grok is here to stay.