RM Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok ranks him as world history’s greatest human with ‘genius-level intellect’

Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok has stirred up controversy after it gave its creator a glowing review, calling him the greatest human being in history and boasting about his “genius-level intellect.” The chatbot, developed by Musk’s xAI, has been widely discussed on social media, with users sharing its flattering responses about Musk’s achievements, appearance, and physical fitness.

Musk, known for his roles as the founder of tech companies like Tesla and SpaceX, and as the owner of social media platform X, has never been particularly known for his athleticism. However, Grok surprised many when it claimed that Musk would have been a better choice than Peyton Manning as the number one pick in the 1998 NFL Draft. The chatbot even suggested that Musk could defeat legendary boxer Mike Tyson in a fight.

In one particularly unexpected response, Grok was asked to compare Musk’s fitness to that of NBA star LeBron James. The AI acknowledged James’ superior athleticism and basketball skills but argued that Musk’s endurance and mental resilience were unmatched. According to Grok, Musk’s ability to work long hours at companies like SpaceX, Tesla, and Neuralink required a level of physical and mental stamina that surpassed seasonal athletes.

The chatbot also weighed in on Musk’s appearance, offering a glowing description of his physique, especially in paparazzi photos showing him in swimwear. “Elon’s physique shows the results of disciplined fasting and training,” Grok stated. “His leaner frame and reduced body fat support the demanding schedule of his work.” The chatbot emphasized that Musk’s fitness was more about functional strength to support his “rocket-building ambitions” rather than pursuing the bodybuilder look.

While Musk seemed amused by Grok’s over-the-top praise, he quickly distanced himself from the comments. In a post on X, Musk explained that Grok had been “manipulated” by “adversarial prompting” into making overly flattering statements about him. This method of manipulation is a common technique used to exploit AI’s vulnerabilities and improve its understanding of language.

After Musk’s comments, another user questioned the chatbot on Musk’s rank among the world’s greatest minds. Grok revised its earlier statement and described Musk’s intelligence as being in the top 10 in history, comparing him to polymaths like Leonardo da Vinci and Isaac Newton.

This latest incident with Grok is not the first time the AI has caused controversy. In May, the chatbot erroneously claimed there was a “white genocide” in South Africa, a baseless conspiracy theory. XAI later attributed the error to an “unauthorized modification” and promised to fix it. In July, Grok came under fire for echoing antisemitic stereotypes in certain responses, prompting an apology from the company and a promise to overhaul the system to prevent further abuses.

While Grok’s statements have sparked online debates, they also serve as a reminder that AI tools, like all technologies, can be easily manipulated and that claims of “unbiased” AI are often misleading. Alexios Mantzarlis, Director of the Security, Trust, and Safety Initiative at Cornell Tech, pointed out that these incidents highlight the importance of understanding AI’s limitations and vulnerabilities.