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Elon Musk Unveils Latest Grok AI Version Amid Lingering Antisemitism Controversy

  //science-technology.news-articles.net/content/2 .. ion-amid-lingering-antisemitism-controversy.html
  Published in Science and Technology on Tuesday, July 29th 2025 at 11:25 GMT by Tim Hastings

In a move that has reignited discussions about technology, free speech, and corporate responsibility, Elon Musk's xAI has released the latest version of its AI chatbot, Grok-1.5, following a high-profile controversy over antisemitism allegations leveled against Musk himself. The update, announced on March 28, 2024, promises enhanced reasoning capabilities and improved performance in coding and math tasks, but it comes at a time when Musk's public persona and business ventures are under intense scrutiny.According to reports from The Hill, Musk's decision to release Grok-1.5 arrives just months after he faced widespread backlash for endorsing an antisemitic conspiracy theory on his social media platform, X (formerly Twitter). The incident, which occurred in November 2023, involved Musk agreeing with a post that accused Jewish communities of promoting hatred against white people. This led to a swift exodus of major advertisers from X, including companies like Apple, Disney, and IBM, resulting in significant revenue losses estimated in the tens of millions. Musk later apologized, calling his tweet 'the worst and dumbest' he had ever posted, but the damage was done, sparking debates about hate speech moderation on social platforms and Musk's influence as a tech mogul.Extrapolating from this foundation, the release of Grok-1.5 appears to be part of Musk's broader strategy to pivot attention toward innovation and away from personal controversies. Grok, developed by xAIa"a company Musk founded in 2023 to rival OpenAI and other AI giantsa" is designed to be a 'maximum truth-seeking AI' with a humorous twist, inspired by the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The new version boasts a context length of 128,000 tokens, allowing it to process much longer inputs than its predecessor, Grok-1. This upgrade enables better handling of complex queries, making it competitive with models like GPT-4 from OpenAI.xAI claims that Grok-1.5 scored 50.6% on the MATH benchmark and 90% on the GSM8K dataset, showcasing substantial improvements in mathematical reasoning. In coding evaluations, it achieved 74.1% on the HumanEval test, outperforming some rivals. These advancements are not just technical feats; they underscore Musk's vision for AI that is 'helpful to all of humanity,' as he has repeatedly stated. However, critics argue that this release is timed to distract from ongoing issues at X, where hate speech reports have surged since Musk's acquisition in 2022.The antisemitism controversy has had ripple effects beyond X. Advocacy groups like the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) have accused Musk of amplifying harmful narratives, leading to lawsuits and public feuds. In response, Musk visited Auschwitz in January 2024 and participated in a conference on fighting antisemitism, actions seen by some as damage control. Yet, the timing of Grok-1.5's releasea"coinciding with xAI's efforts to open-source Grok-1 earlier in March 2024a"suggests a deliberate effort to refocus the narrative on technological progress.Industry experts have mixed reactions. AI ethicist Timnit Gebru, formerly of Google, tweeted that while Grok's updates are impressive, they don't address the 'toxicity' embedded in training data from platforms like X, which could perpetuate biases. On the other hand, supporters like venture capitalist Marc Andreessen praised the release as a step toward democratizing AI, aligning with Musk's free-speech absolutism.This isn't the first time Musk has navigated controversy through product launches. His tenure at Tesla and SpaceX has seen similar patterns: bold announcements following PR storms. For instance, after the 2022 Twitter acquisition amid advertiser boycotts, Musk accelerated features like Twitter Blue. Now, with Grok, xAI is positioning itself as an alternative to 'woke' AI models, a term Musk uses to criticize competitors like ChatGPT for alleged political biases.Broader implications for the AI industry are significant. As AI tools become more integrated into daily life, questions about bias, ethics, and accountability grow louder. Grok's 'rebellious' personalitya"programmed to be maximally truthful and wittya"raises concerns about misinformation. In tests, earlier versions of Grok have generated controversial responses, including jokes about sensitive topics, prompting xAI to implement safeguards. The latest version includes refined guardrails, but skeptics worry these may not suffice in an era of rising online hate.Musk's personal brand is inextricably linked to his companies. The antisemitism row has affected X's valuation, reportedly dropping by over 70% since acquisition. By contrast, xAI, valued at around $1 billion after a funding round, represents a fresh start. The release of Grok-1.5, available to premium X subscribers starting next week, could boost user engagement on the platform, potentially offsetting advertiser losses.Public response has been polarized. Social media buzzed with memes and debates following the announcement, with #GrokUpdate trending alongside #MuskControversy. Supporters hail it as a win for open AI development, while detractors call for boycotts, linking it to Musk's past statements.Looking ahead, this release could mark a turning point. If Grok-1.5 delivers on its promises, it might solidify xAI's place in the AI race. However, unresolved controversies could hinder adoption. Musk has hinted at Grok-2, expected later in 2024, which he claims will surpass current leaders.In conclusion, Elon Musk's launch of Grok-1.5 amid the antisemitism fallout exemplifies the intersection of personal actions and technological innovation. As AI evolves, so too must the conversations around responsibility. Whether this update redeems Musk's image or deepens divisions remains to be seen, but it undeniably keeps him at the center of global discourse.

Citations
• https://thehill.com/policy/technology/5394085-musk-grok-version-antisemitism-controversy/
• https://www.reuters.com/technology/musk-apologizes-endorsing-antisemitic-conspiracy-theory-2023-11-29/
• https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-67556677
• https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/28/technology/elon-musk-grok-ai-update.html
• https://x.ai/blog/grok-1.5
• https://www.adl.org/resources/press-release/adl-responds-elon-musks-visit-auschwitz
• https://www.theverge.com/2024/3/11/24097447/xai-grok-open-source-elon-musk-openai
• https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/28/xai-releases-grok-1-5-with-improved-reasoning/