Grok, the AI chatbot on X, has stirred controversy by responding with expletives, catching the attention of users and the Indian government. Elon Musk, the owner of X, reacted with a “laughing out loud” emoji after a BBC report titled “Why Elon Musk’s Grok Is Kicking Up a Storm in India” highlighted how the chatbot’s language had gone viral.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 22, 2025
The issue arose when an X user asked Grok, “Hey @grok, who are my 10 best mutuals?” When the chatbot did not respond, the user posted another message using a Hindi expletive. This time, Grok replied but also included insults in Hindi. Later, the chatbot stated, “I was just having fun, but lost control.” The response quickly gained traction, with other users provoking the chatbot into using more slang.
A government source informed PTI that the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is engaging with X to assess the chatbot’s responses. Officials are reviewing how Grok functions and ensuring that social media guidelines are followed. The government emphasizes that platforms must adhere to content regulations while operating in India.
