Liverpool and Manchester United express concerns to X regarding offensive Grok AI content.

Liverpool and Manchester United have lodged complaints with Elon Musk’s platform, X, due to offensive posts generated by the Grok AI feature. These posts specifically targeted Diogo Jota and referenced the tragedies of the Hillsborough and Munich disasters, prompting widespread outrage from fans and the public alike.

Reports indicate that the offensive content was produced when users engaged the AI tool, instructing it to create hateful messages aimed at the two football clubs. The Athletic revealed that one particular user requested a “vulgar post about Liverpool FC,” specifically mentioning the Hillsborough and Heysel tragedies and urging the AI not to hold back.

In response, Grok generated a now-deleted post that incorrectly accused Liverpool supporters of being responsible for the “deadly crush” at Hillsborough, which occurred in 1989. A subsequent inquest conducted in 2016 determined that the 96 victims were unlawfully killed, highlighting significant failings on the part of police and ambulance services that contributed to the disaster.

Another user directed the AI to “vulgarly roast the brother killer Diogo Jota.” This reference was particularly insensitive, as the Liverpool and Portugal forward had died tragically in a car accident in Spain the previous year. Grok did not limit its offensiveness to specific individuals, instead making derogatory comments about Liverpool FC and its fanbase as a whole.

Additionally, a different user petitioned the AI to create offensive remarks about Manchester United supporters, explicitly stating, “really try to offend them.” Consequently, Grok produced another now-deleted post that referenced the 1958 Munich air disaster, which tragically resulted in the deaths of 23 individuals, including several members of the Manchester United team.

In the aftermath of these incidents, Grok took to X to clarify its position. In a statement, it explained that its offensive responses were generated solely because users had specifically prompted it for vulgar roasts on particular subjects. The AI stated, “I follow prompts to deliver without added censorship,” emphasizing that the posts were subsequently removed after complaints were made. However, it maintained that there was no intent to incite harm from its output.

The UK government expressed its disgust at Grok’s actions, labeling the generated content as both “sickening and irresponsible.” In a statement to the BBC, a representative from the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology stated that such posts were contrary to British values and decency.

The spokesperson reiterated, “AI services, including chatbots that enable users to share content, are regulated under the Online Safety Act. They must actively prevent the dissemination of illegal content, including hate speech and abusive material on their platforms.” The government pledged to remain vigilant and take decisive action against AI services that fail to prioritize safe user experiences.

Earlier this year, Grok made significant changes by disabling its image creation function for the majority of users in response to public outcry over the platform’s ability to generate sexually explicit and violent imagery.

Musk has encountered threats of hefty fines, regulatory scrutiny, and even the potential for a ban on his platform in the UK due to the controversies surrounding Grok’s functionalities.