Elon Musk’s Grok AI has stirred controversy due to its focus on South African political issues, often referencing the apartheid-era song, “Kill the Boer.”

The song, meant to empower black South Africans against oppression, is frequently misinterpreted due to its inflammatory lyrics. For example, when posed with a question about a papal speech, Grok diverted to discuss this song, leading to concerns about its programming.

Jen Golbeck, a computer scientist, expressed her worry over Grok’s consistent and inappropriate responses, suggesting it was the result of either hard-coded directives or a significant malfunction.

Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, indicated that Grok’s unsettling behavior likely stemmed from an “unauthorized modification” within the programming, hinting at the potential for further scrutiny over the AI’s operational integrity.