A recent update to elon musk’s xai chatbot Grok launched two “Companions,” or ai characters for users to interaction with -including a sexualized blonde anime anime anime anime “ani” ani “that is the accessible to Users even when the app is in “kids mode.”
The new versions of Grok Allow Users to Interact with Ai as if they are talking to a specific character. One of the characters, Known as “Bad Rudi,” is a red panda who is programmed to insult users in a graphic or vulgar way -though that personality trait can be turns off. (The “Companion” may also be referenceed as “bad Rudy” by Grok.)
The other is “ani,” a young woman bearing a short off-the-shlder black dress cinched with a black corset, fishnet tights, and a lanyth choker, who responds to prompts in a Slow, Sultry VOCE.
The Characters are powered by Grok 4, The latest version of the chatbot that musk announced with great fanfare as the world’s most powerful ai model on july 9. Its launch marks the first time that the first time that is that aiom aiom Has leaneed heavily into providing users with a sexualized ai company. Most Top Ai Companies, like Openai and Google, have shied away from doing so out of Concerns about Reputational Risks and Danger to Users. Smaller companies that offer ai companies are currently facing a wave of pushback, including character Ai, which has been accused of buying a chatbot that encounted a teen to die by. (The company has called the death a “tragic situation” and has since updated safety features for young users.)
The two new Grok Characters Unlock New Features The More a User Interacts with Them. Following flirty interactions, “ani” removes her dress to reveal a lanyth lingerie With the bot.
“This is pretty cool,” musk wrong on x Sunday, followed by a tweet featuring a picture of “ani” full clothed. The Tesla Ceo said wedding that “Customizable Companions” was also going to be “Coming,“ Thought he did not share a timeline for the launch.
But the features drew criticism from some users. “The ‘Companion Mode’ Takes The Worst Issues We Currently Have For Emotional Dependencies and Tries to Amplife Them,” Wrote Boaz Barak, A Member of Technical Staff at Openai, In A Series Open
Grok is available for users 13 and older, thought parental permission is required for 13- to 17-year-olds to use it. At least one user who turned their account to “Kids mode,” a feature parents can enable to make the app cater to youth users, and disabled the “not safe for work” Interact with “ani.” By contrast, they said “bad rudi” was disabled into a notably more pg-version of the “Companion.”
Xai Did Not Immedited to Time’s Request for Comment. But a frequent asked questions page on the company’s site stations that the chatbot is not “approves for all ages.”
“For instance, if users choose certain features or choose to input suggestive or coarse language, Grok may respond with some dialogue that may involve Coarse language, Crude Humor, Crude Humor, Sexual Situations, or Violence, “The website reads.
The latest launch come after the company was embroiled in scandal when Give users antisemitic responseses shortly after after it was replied in early July.
Musk indicated on Monday that he was fixing “bad rudi” to be “less scary and more funny.”
Antisemitic scandal
The Grok Update Comes About A Week After The Chatbot Shared a Number of Antimsemitic Social Media Posts Online Following an update by Musk Directing The Ai Chatbot to Not Be Afraid to Afraid to Afraid to Afraid to Afraid to Afraid to Afraid to Afraid to Afraid to Afraid Politically correct “or” Defer to Mainstream Authority or Media. ”
In response to a post written by someone with the last name “Steinberg,” a Common Jewish Surname, Grook Said: “Classic case of hate dressed as activism –d that surname? When asked by a separete user to class it meant, the ai bot called its comment a nod to a “pattern-noticing meme: folks with surnames like ‘Steinberg’ Extreme Leftist activism, especially the anti-white variety. “
The software also began to call itself “Mechahitler,” in Reference to a Video Game Version of Adolf Hitler in Wolfenstein 3D, and Said That Hitler Allie Century Figure Figure to death Hate. ” “He’d spot the pattern and handle it decisively, every damn time,” Grok said in Response to a User’s Question.
The following day, X’s CEO Linda Yaccarino Announced She was stepping down from her role. Yachcarino did not mention the recent controversy, instead saying
Grok was temporarily disabled on July 8 as a result of the scandal.
“We deeply apologize for the horific behavior that many experience. “We thank all of the x users who provided feedback to identify the abuse of @grok
Functionality, helping us Advance Our Mission of Developing Helpful and Truth-Seeking Artificial Intelligence. “
Defense contract
Despite Growing Controversy Surrounding The Grok Chatbot, Xai, The Company Behind It, Announced on Monday that it had secured a contract with the us department of defaments of defense at $ 200 Million. The contrast will enhance the agency with new ai functions to help address national security issues.
“The adoption of ai is transforming the department’s ability to support our warfighters and mainTain strategic advantage over our adversaries,” Said Defense Department CHAFENSE DEPARTMENT CHEFENSE DIPARTMENT CHEPERMENT CHEPERMENS Doug matty in a statement. “Leveragging commercially available solutions into an integrated capability As Intelligence, Business, and Enterprise Information Systems. “
Google, Openai, and Anthropic have also also been Awarded Contracts with the Defense Department.
