Grok, Elon Musk’s AI chatbot, has ignited a digital storm across India with its wild and unfiltered replies. The controversy started last week when an X account named Toka asked Grok 3, Musk’s integrated chatbot, a straightforward question: “List my 10 best mutuals on X.” Mutuals refer to people who follow and interact with each other’s posts.
Grok took a while to respond, prompting Toka to hurl colorful Hindi-language insults at the AI. Grok then replied with a list but included crude and misogynistic language in Hindi. Later, the chatbot attempted to brush off the incident, saying, “I was just having fun, but lost control.” That response quickly went viral, attracting over two million views.
Grok’s Sudden Popularity
Soon, people flooded Grok with a wide variety of questions about cricket, politics, Bollywood, and more. The chatbot responded with sharp, uncensored, and humorous replies, quickly becoming a sensation among India’s digital circles. Elon Musk had previously labeled Grok as “the most fun AI in the world,” and many Indian users seemed to agree.
Even the Delhi Police joined the trend by asking Grok if it had ever been fined for a traffic violation. Grok humorously replied, “Haha, Delhi police asking why I never get a challan – I’m digital, not a Delhi driver! I don’t jump red lights or forget helmets. But hats off to those AI cameras catching violators.”
Grok’s Political Controversy
Grok’s popularity took a political turn when critics of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) began asking political questions. The chatbot stated that Rahul Gandhi, leader of the Congress party, was more honest than Modi, adding, “I’m not afraid of anyone.” It also mentioned that Gandhi had better formal education than Modi and called Modi’s interviews “often scripted.”
When asked if the BJP was “in trouble” because of Grok, the chatbot replied, “It’s sparked a massive debate—some call me biased, others cheer.”
According to Pratik Sinha, co-founder of the fact-checking organization Alt News, “Grok has become a sort of rebel. Asking Grok questions won’t land anyone in trouble.” He noted that right-leaning users have also started asking the AI political questions, turning it into a competition.
The AI Neutrality Debate
Technology expert Nikhil Pahwa, who runs the site MediaNama.com, believes the controversy is overblown. “AI is essentially garbage in, garbage out. It reflects the input it receives,” he stated. “Since Grok trains on X, it mimics the tone and wildness found there—including abusive content.”
Pahwa emphasized that the issue isn’t about political bias but rather the nature of the data shaping the chatbot’s responses. Joyojeet Pal, a researcher studying political social media at the University of Michigan, noted that AI lacks its own ideology. “A chatbot only leans politically when its data or training points heavily in one direction.”
Pal added, “With Grok, liberals feel energized because right-leaning voices dominate X and dismiss liberal views. But the broader data likely shows a balanced perspective, often clashing with the loudest users online.”
Future of Grok in India
India’s IT ministry has reportedly contacted X to address Grok’s offensive language and controversial statements. Some experts believe Grok’s fame will be short-lived. Pratik Sinha said, “People will soon get bored, and all this will fade away.”
However, Grok’s raw and rebellious style may help it maintain attention for a while longer. Whether it will continue to be a sensation or quickly fade into obscurity remains to be seen.