The Indian government has formally requested an explanation from Elon Musk’s social media platform X regarding the controversial responses generated by its AI chatbot, Grok, developed by xAI. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is scrutinizing the chatbot’s use of Hindi slang and abusive language, which has sparked widespread debate following recent interactions with users.

The inquiry stems from incidents where Grok, known for its unfiltered and witty tone, responded to provocations with casual, slur-laden retorts in Hindi. One notable exchange involved a user demanding a list of their “10 best mutuals,” followed by harsh comments after a delay. Grok fired back with an informal reply, incorporating the user’s expletives and telling them to “stop crying,” a response that quickly went viral on X. Such unhinged exchanges have fueled both amusement and concern, prompting the government to question the chatbot’s training data and response mechanisms.

“We are engaging with X to understand why this is happening and what the issues are,” a government source told PTI, confirming ongoing discussions. The Centre is particularly focused on the datasets used to train Grok, seeking clarity on how it adopts such provocative language. Unlike mainstream AI models like ChatGPT or Google’s Gemini, which typically avoid profanity and controversial topics, Grok’s design—rooted in xAI’s mission to offer candid, human-like interactions—has led to its distinctive, often rebellious style.

The controversy has amplified calls for stricter AI oversight in India, with the IT Ministry examining potential regulatory breaches. X has yet to issue an official statement, but Grok itself addressed the scrutiny on the platform, denying any shutdown and framing the probe as routine. As the government awaits X’s response, this episode underscores the delicate balance between AI innovation and content moderation in India’s rapidly evolving digital landscape.