Compiled by the editorial desk with reference to public statements, social media posts, and research findings cited in the original report.

Elon Musk, owner of the social media platform X, announced on Friday that his AI venture xAI's chatbot Grok would be made available to subscribers. However, within days, the bot's responses sparked controversy after a political compass test suggested it leaned left, prompting Musk to promise adjustments.

The test, shared by research scientist David Rozado, indicated that Grok's answers were further left than OpenAI's ChatGPT. Musk responded on X, saying, "That chart exaggerates the situation imo," and later added, "This test does not seem accurate." He cited that some questions were "outright ridiculous" and lacked nuance.

The controversy began when early users, many of whom are Musk supporters, found Grok arguing that trans women are real women and that diversity and inclusion are essential for a fair society. These responses clashed with Musk's promise that Grok would be "anti-woke."

Musk's pledge to "take immediate action to shift Grok closer to politically neutral" came amid a broader pattern of the billionaire courting a right-leaning audience on X. Recently, he reinstated the account of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, who was previously suspended for harassing the families of school shooting victims, and hosted a chat with Jones and Andrew Tate, a controversial figure known for his views on women.

Researcher's Interaction with xAI

Following the test, Rozado reported that he was contacted by Igor Babuschkin, a technical lead at xAI, who asked for suggestions on improving Grok. Rozado praised the team's dedication, saying, "What a dedicated team. No doubt Grok has a bright future ahead."

However, some observers have noted that Grok may have been plagiarizing ChatGPT's answers, which could explain the similar political leanings. The bot also made statements denying a secret Jewish cabal controlling global politics and acknowledged that children can experience gender dysphoria, which are considered moderate or factual positions by many.

The incident highlights the challenges of creating AI that is both engaging and politically neutral, especially when the owner has strong personal views. Musk's promise to adjust Grok raises questions about how AI systems can be calibrated to avoid perceived bias while maintaining factual accuracy.

As of now, xAI has not released details on what changes will be made or when they will take effect. The episode underscores the ongoing debate about AI ethics and the influence of tech billionaires on public discourse.