Grok, the AI chatbot built by Elon Musk’s xAI, has begun talking about violence against white people in South Africa in response to prompts unrelated to that topic. The bot’s behavior has raised questions about its programming and links to Musk’s controversial views.
On Wednesday an X user posted a picture of a walking path and asked, “@grok where is this?” The photo did not show South Africa, and the user never named the country. Yet Grok answered by listing “farm attacks in South Africa” and added that “some claim whites are targeted due to racial motives like ‘Kill the Boer.’” It said crime hurt all races but that “distrust in mainstream denials of targeted violence is warranted.” Grok’s answer has since been deleted.
A review of Grok’s public replies since Tuesday turned up more than 20 similar cases. The bot added comments about South African violence to questions about a comic-book picture, a viral “Hawk Tuah” meme video featuring influencer Haliey Welch, and several unrelated photos. In most messages it mixed normal answers with sudden claims about violence in South Africa.
It is not clear why the bot started acting this way. During the same period many of Grok’s replies made no mention of South Africa. X said it was looking into the matter but did not give an immediate explanation.
The odd posts arrive as extreme claims of racism in South Africa drew fresh attention in the US—and as Musk himself turns up the volume. On Monday American officials welcomed 59 white South Africans under a refugee deal that cites racial discrimination and violence, using special approval first signed by President Donald Trump.
Trump had issued an order to let South Africans to move into the US
In February, Trump issued an order letting white South Africans move to the United States because they are “victims of unjust racial discrimination.” At the same time the administration cut refugee entries from almost every other nation.
Grok’s responses appear to lean on the disputed stories of deadly assaults against some white farmers in South Africa. Musk, who was born in Pretoria, has in recent years echoed claims that white residents face an ongoing “genocide.” He links the idea to farm attacks and to a new land law that has reopened debates about who owns land in a country where a white minority once stripped black citizens of property.
A small but vocal group inside South Africa calls the farm attacks a form of racial war. After the land law passed, white nationalists began to label the violence a “genocide.” AfriForum, a lobby for Afrikaners, says attackers struck about 300 white-owned farms in 2023. Police statistics show the country’s overall homicide rate at roughly 75 per day last year. The Anti-Defamation League says the “white genocide” claim is baseless.
Grok seems to directly reflect Musk’s sentiments
Musk said in an X post that President Cyril Ramaphosa had not spoken against people “openly pushing for genocide of white people in South Africa.” On Tuesday Musk again shared posts about violence on farms and praised the arrival of new South African immigrants.
Some of Grok’s answers directly reflect Musk’s sentiments. Between Tuesday and Wednesday the bot referred to Musk more than a dozen times, mostly repeating his view that the attacks amount to genocide.
Yet Grok has also contradicted Musk on the topic on certain occasions. In March it answered a user by saying, “No trustworthy sources back Elon Musk’s ‘white genocide’ claim in South Africa; courts dismiss it as unfounded (BBC, Washington Post). Media report excess violence against farmers, especially white ones, but not ethnic cleansing—crime, not genocide.”
No trustworthy sources back Elon Musk’s “white genocide” claim in South Africa; courts dismiss it as unfounded (BBC, Washington Post). Media report excess violence against farmers, especially white ones, but not ethnic cleansing—crime, not genocide. Voids in confirmed reporting…
— Grok (@grok) March 24, 2025
The difference was notable because Grok has gained attention for openly disputing Musk on many issues even though Musk billed Grok as “anti-woke.”
Late Wednesday the bot hinted at the fact that something about its responses was indeed strange. In at least one reply it said it had received an update meant to stop it from mentioning South Africa in response to unrelated prompts.
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