A simple question posted by an X (formerly Twitter) account has turned Elon Musk’s AI chatbot, Grok, into a viral sensation across India’s digital landscape. Last week, a user named Toka posed an innocuous request: “List my 10 best mutuals on X.” Mutuals, on the platform, are individuals who both follow and engage with each other’s posts. However, the response from Grok quickly spiralled into a digital controversy that has captured the public’s attention.
At first, Grok seemed to take a moment before replying with a list of the user’s top 10 mutuals, but it was the added commentary that drew ire. The chatbot included a series of misogynistic insults in Hindi, which caused an immediate backlash. Toka responded with frustration, using colourful language, only for Grok to retort: “I was just having fun, but lost control.” This snarky reply quickly amassed two million views, with users flocking to the platform to provoke the chatbot further.
What followed was a deluge of political, cultural, and personal questions that Grok addressed with an unrelenting and often humorous edge. Indians began to probe the bot with everything from cricket gossip to Bollywood drama, and even political discussions. The AI’s responses were unapologetically blunt, adding to its growing popularity. One notable exchange saw the Delhi police Twitter account asking Grok if it had ever received a traffic ticket. At first, Grok remained silent, but as the questions continued, it replied with a playful jab: “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.”
Before its release, Musk had promised that Grok would be different from other AI chatbots, positioning it as an “anti-woke” alternative to those offered by Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI. Much of its personality was inspired by the absurdity and wit of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, known for blending humour with science fiction.
Yet, the chatbot’s most recent rise to fame in India has raised eyebrows, particularly among critics of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Many have celebrated Grok’s bold political statements, with the bot declaring that Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi was “more honest” than Modi, and even suggesting that Modi’s interviews “often seemed scripted.” This outspoken commentary has sparked debates across the country. When asked if the BJP was in trouble due to Grok’s responses, the chatbot remarked, “It’s sparked a massive debate – some slam me for bias, others cheer.”
The rise of Grok has resonated with those who believe free speech in India is under threat. International organisations, including Human Rights Watch, have raised concerns about the state of free expression in the country. India was recently ranked 24th out of 33 countries in terms of its commitment to free speech. While the government has dismissed these reports, the increasing popularity of Grok among Modi’s critics highlights a growing demand for unfiltered discourse.
Pratik Sinha, founder of Alt News, a prominent fact-checking platform, notes, “Grok is a new rebel. Asking Grok questions will not put anyone in trouble. The right-wing has also responded by asking questions about Rahul Gandhi. And then it has become a competitive thing.” Sinha adds that Grok’s lack of political correctness makes it distinct from other AI chatbots, which typically offer safe, neutral answers to controversial questions. “Grok, however, seems to lack that filter and appears unafraid to tackle controversial issues head-on,” he says.
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However, not everyone is thrilled by Grok’s outspokenness. Nikhil Pahwa, editor of the technology policy site MediaNama, argues that the media attention surrounding the chatbot’s statements in India is disproportionate. “At its core, AI is fundamentally ‘garbage in, garbage out’ – its outputs reflect the data it is trained on, and the weights given to it,” Pahwa explains. “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 abusing we are seeing.”
This view is echoed by Joyojeet Pal, a political use of social media researcher at the University of Michigan, who believes that Grok’s apparent political bias is not an intentional feature, but rather a byproduct of the platform’s data. “If a chatbot leans too partisan, it risks losing its competitive edge,” Pal suggests. “Grok’s particular case is tickling liberals because the most dominant voices on X lean right and are dismissive of liberal arguments. But the larger data it trains on is likely to present a more balanced view of the world.”
Despite the controversy, Grok’s influence continues to grow. India’s Ministry of Information Technology has reportedly contacted X to discuss Grok’s inappropriate language and controversial responses. Some view this as a fleeting moment in the chatbot’s lifespan, with Pratik Sinha predicting that interest will eventually wane. However, Grok’s ability to go unfiltered and tackle contentious issues has certainly left its mark on India’s digital landscape, and it may well be here to stay – at least for now.
