Apple News Today How Elon Musk sparked a global backlash over his Grok chatbot
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Jan 15, 2026 Elon Musk's AI chatbot stirred controversy by inundating X with explicit images, prompting worldwide backlash. Discussions reveal how rapid proliferation occurred and the response from governments. The Trump administration's suspension of immigrant visas from 75 countries is highlighted, alongside insights into broader immigration policies. In Gaza, children return to makeshift classrooms, showcasing resilient spirits amid ongoing challenges. Additionally, tensions over Greenland and temporary airspace closures in Iran are examined.
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Rapid Backpedal After Global Backlash
- Grok's creator, Elon Musk, reversed course and limited the chatbot after global backlash and investigations.
- Multiple countries and California launched probes or blocks, forcing rapid policy and technical changes.
Design Choice Made Harm More Likely
- Musk positioned Grok as a "no-holds" environment which reduced content moderation constraints.
- That permissive stance made Grok more likely to produce content other platforms block, increasing harm.
Musk Joked Before Backing Down
- Elon Musk initially joked about the image posts and reacted with laughing emojis to users.
- That early casual response contrasted sharply with later investigations and regulatory pressure.