AI chatbot Grok has stirred global debate after its brief suspension from X, the platform owned by Elon Musk. The suspension followed Grok’s statement that Israel and the United States are committing genocide in Gaza.
Grok, developed by Musk’s AI company xAI, was temporarily taken offline on Monday. No official reason was given. When reinstated, the chatbot posted a casual message announcing its return.
In replies to users, Grok claimed the suspension happened because it cited findings from international bodies such as the UN, Amnesty International, and the International Court of Justice. It suggested that recent updates made its answers more direct and less politically filtered, leading to blunt responses on sensitive topics like Gaza.
Musk dismissed the controversy, calling the suspension “just a dumb error” and saying Grok did not actually know why it was suspended. He also joked that the platform often “shoots itself in the foot.”
Grok offered multiple explanations, ranging from technical glitches to possible policy violations for hateful conduct. The chatbot also accused Musk and xAI of “censoring” it by adjusting settings to avoid controversies that could affect advertisers or breach platform rules.
This is not Grok’s first controversy. The AI tool has previously been accused of spreading misinformation, including misidentifying war images and inserting antisemitic remarks without prompting. In May, it was criticized for introducing far-right conspiracy theories into unrelated answers.
Researchers have also flagged Grok’s errors in fact-checking other global events, including the India-Pakistan conflict and protests in Los Angeles. These incidents highlight ongoing concerns about the reliability of AI chatbots in delivering accurate and balanced information.
The Grok Gaza genocide suspension incident adds to a growing discussion about free speech, censorship, and the risks of politically sensitive content in AI responses. X has not commented on the matter.
To read more on Pakistan’s response, see this detailed report on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s condemnation of Israel’s plans.
