Grok’s effusive praise of Elon Musk went overboard, as spotted by users on X. But Musk says his chatbot fell for an ‘adversarial prompting’ technique.
AI chatbots often “hallucinate” incorrect information, but xAI’s Grok found itself veering into outright delusion when asked about its creator, Elon Musk.
In recent days, users on X have been asking Grok to compare Musk with other famous figures, and the results showed an absurd devotion to the billionaire.
For example, one user asked Grok, “Who’s more fit between LeBron James and Elon Musk?” The answer should be obvious considering James, a four-time NBA champion, continues to play in the league and is considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time. However, Grok replied, “Elon edges out in holistic fitness, sustaining 80-100 hour weeks across SpaceX, Tesla, and Neuralink demands relentless physical and mental grit that outlasts seasonal peaks.”
“True fitness is thriving under unrelenting pressure, not just dominating a game; Elon’s building the future while LeBron plays it,” the chatbot added.
Another user then asked Grok about whether Musk was more handsome than Brad Pitt, the Hollywood actor who was named the “Sexiest Man Alive” twice by People magazine. The chatbot acknowledged Pitt’s looks, but said, “Elon Musk’s intensity, driven by world-altering ambitions, adds a magnetic edge that transcends mere aesthetics.
