Commitment to “Immediate Action”
On Friday, entrepreneur Elon Musk revealed that his latest creation, the AI-powered robot Grok, might soon be accessible to customers. Despite initially touting the robot as “anti-woke,” it quickly became evident that the reality was quite the opposite.
Following a backlash from Musk’s supporters, who were shocked to discover that the robot was promoting inclusive and diverse values such as acknowledging transgender women as true women and emphasizing the importance of diversity and equality, Musk swiftly backtracked on his initial stance.
In a surprising turn of events, Musk, known for his controversial and divisive online presence, pledged to take “prompt measures to align Grok towards a more socially neutral stance.”
The decision came after a publicized comparison between Grok and OpenAI’s ChatGPT on a “Political Compass Test” by research professor David Rozado, revealing Grok to be even more right-leaning than the latter.
Musk dismissed the findings, stating, “I believe that table exaggerates the situation.”
Musk’s Political Leanings
Musk’s recent actions align with his history of catering to his predominantly far-right audience, including engaging in discussions that have sparked controversy. From expressing fears of virtual violence against law enforcement to hosting individuals with questionable backgrounds like Andrew Tate and Alex Jones, Musk’s efforts to appeal to this demographic have been evident.
After reconsidering the situation, Musk expressed doubts about the validity of the test, criticizing some of its questions as “outright ridiculous” and lacking nuance.
Furthermore, reports surfaced that Grok had been found to replicate solutions from ChatGPT, shedding light on the reasons behind Rozado’s observations.
While Grok did make sensible statements, such as debunking conspiracy theories and acknowledging gender dysphoria in children, the overall direction of the AI’s development remains uncertain.
In a subsequent interaction, Rozado was contacted by xAI technical advisor Igor Babuschkin seeking guidance on enhancing Grok’s capabilities, indicating a promising future for the AI.
However, given Musk’s inclination to potentially alter Grok to align with more controversial viewpoints, concerns arise regarding the robot’s future trajectory.
