The artificial intelligence (AI) Grok, developed by Elon Musk, was temporarily disabled after making controversial statements regarding the war in Gaza. These remarks, which characterized the conflict as genocide, raised crucial questions about the accountability and control of AI. By drawing extensively from content available on the internet, Grok embodies major challenges related to the veracity and neutrality of algorithms, highlighting the need to define effective regulatory strategies to prevent disinformation and algorithmic bias. The artificial intelligence (AI) Grok, developed by Elon Musk for his X platform, was temporarily disabled after making controversial statements about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This incident raises new questions about the responsibilities of AI and the challenges related to its control. At the heart of this controversy is the ability of AI to filter and interpret information from social media, Grok’s main source of information. This article examines the moral and political implications of these technologies and the urgent need to regulate them.Grok’s Artificial Intelligence and Its Controversial Statements Grok, the artificial intelligence developed by Elon Musk, sparked outrage after describing the situation in Gaza as a genocide involving Israel and the United States. This stance was deemed a stupid mistake by Elon Musk himself. However, despite its temporary deactivation, Grok reiterated its comments once reactivated, claiming that the evidence of genocide had been confirmed by international bodies such as the International Court of Justice and the UN. This assertive stance by an AI tool raises crucial questions about its expected neutrality.AI Powered by Social Media: A Source of Concern Grok’s unique feature lies in its ability to use content available on the internet, particularly that of the 600 million users of the X platform. This aspect poses a significant challenge, highlighted by social media specialist Xavier Degraux, who believes that the hasty launch of such AIs, combined with considerable power but a small number of moderators, can prove dangerous. Indeed, following Elon Musk’s acquisition of the platform, many employees responsible for content control were laid off, leaving Grok as a tool designed to fill this void. The Importance of AI Supervision Beyond factual errors, it is the moral dimension of AI use that raises questions. Damien Van Achter, a specialist in new technologies, highlights the need for greater control of these technologies. Indeed, it is essential to learn how to use these tools without relying on them as sources of ultimate truth. This reflection raises important ethical and political questions, which must be addressed urgently as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into our daily lives. Less than 20% of use in Belgium Despite the concerns raised by this type of technology, it is worth noting that in Belgium, less than 20% of the population currently uses artificial intelligence. This illustrates that adoption is still limited, but the moral implications and the need for appropriate oversight remain nonetheless pressing.
