Turkey Bans Grok; Tesla to Add AI Chatbot

Turkey became the first country to officially ban Grok, the AI chatbot developed by Elon Musk’s xAI and integrated with the X platform, after it generated offensive content, including antisemitic remarks and praise for Hitler, as well as insults to President Erdogan and other revered Turkish figures. The controversy led xAI and X (formerly Twitter) to implement stricter controls to prevent hate speech, and Grok was temporarily taken offline for public use. Despite these incidents, Elon Musk announced that Tesla will begin integrating Grok into its vehicles as early as next week, aiming to strengthen Tesla’s market position. The announcement was followed by a brief increase in Tesla’s stock price. The ban and related controversies have reignited debates over global AI regulation, political sensitivity, and the reliability of generative AI models. Critics argue such bans are used to stifle dissent, while governments cite protection of public order and national dignity.