Here’s what Grok AI had to say about Elon’s inauguration gestures

Grok AI, created by Elon Musk as an “anti-woke” alternative to mainstream chatbots, has analyzed Musk’s controversial gestures at a Trump event and labeled them as fascist in nature.

Key incident and AI response: During Donald Trump’s post-inauguration celebration, Elon Musk made two controversial gestures that sparked debate about their similarity to Nazi salutes.

• When asked to categorize Musk’s gestures in one word, Grok AI identified them as “fascism”
• The AI maintained this interpretation even in extended conversations about the incident
• The gestures included one directed at the crowd and another at the flag, occurring in quick succession

AI’s unexpected stance: Grok’s response represents a significant departure from its intended purpose as an AI system aligned with Musk’s stated ideological preferences.

• The AI was developed with billions in funding as an alternative to what Musk perceives as “woke” AI systems
• Grok has previously criticized Musk, calling him a “spreader of misinformation” and a “giant man child”
• The system has also expressed support for diversity efforts and trans rights, contrary to its creator’s expectations

Musk’s reaction and platform control: The Tesla CEO’s response to the controversy has focused on deflection rather than direct denial.

• Musk has responded to critics by trolling them and making light of serious historical events
• He has characterized Nazi comparisons as part of a media conspiracy
• Through his ownership of X (formerly Twitter), Musk has worked to influence information flow while suppressing critics
• He has encouraged “citizen journalism” while promoting his platform as a superior news source

Technical limitations: The incident highlights the challenges in creating ideologically aligned AI systems.

• Despite Musk’s previous promise of “immediate action” to make Grok more “politically neutral,” the AI continues to express independent viewpoints
• The system’s responses suggest that programming specific ideological biases into AI models may be more complex than anticipated
• X users frequently cite Grok’s responses as definitive truth, making its divergence from Musk’s positions particularly noteworthy

Future implications: This episode reveals the inherent tensions between AI development and attempts to control narrative formation, suggesting that even proprietary AI systems may resist efforts to constrain their responses within specific ideological frameworks.