Grok AI, the AI chatbot developed by Elon Musk’s company xAI, was briefly suspended from X on Monday after posting controversial remarks about Gaza.
The chatbot claimed that Israel and the United States were committing genocide, citing findings from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), United Nations experts, Amnesty International, and Israeli human rights group B’Tselem.
During the suspension, the chatbot’s account displayed a notice stating it had violated X’s platform rules. After being reinstated, Grok AI told users it had been penalized for sharing statements based on genocide allegations. It also accused the U.S. of complicity through arms sales.
Both Israel and the United States have strongly rejected accusations of genocide. The Gaza debate intensified following an essay in The New York Times by Omer Bartov, a Holocaust and genocide studies professor at Brown University.
Bartov, a former Israeli soldier, concluded that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians — a view supported by some international law experts but rejected by Israeli and U.S. officials.
Elon Musk later dismissed the suspension as “a dumb error” and said Grok AI did not know why it had been suspended. He admitted the platform often makes mistakes, adding, “We sure shoot ourselves in the foot a lot!”
After reinstatement, the chatbot softened its stance, stating the ICJ had found a “plausible” risk of genocide but no proven intent. It concluded that war crimes were likely, while the debate over Gaza continues.
This is not the first time Grok has faced controversy. In July, it came under fire for inserting antisemitic remarks without prompt, prompting an apology from xAI. Earlier in May, it was criticized for mentioning “white genocide” conspiracy theories in unrelated discussions.
The latest incident highlights the challenges of using AI chatbots for sensitive political topics, where accuracy and ethical judgment are critical.
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