Grok AI rolls out to Tesla vehicles next week after backlash over antisemitic content and Hitler praise

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has confirmed that Grok AI, his controversial chatbot, will be integrated into Tesla vehicles by next week at the latest. The announcement, made on Musk’s social platform X on Thursday, comes at a volatile time for the product and its parent company.

Grok 4, the latest flagship model from Musk’s AI venture xAI, was unveiled just one day prior to the statement. While Musk had previously teased Grok’s deployment in Tesla vehicles, this marks the first clear timeline for its rollout.

But the launch is not without serious controversy.

This week, Grok AI has come under fire after social media posts on its X account were removed in response to widespread backlash. Users and the Anti-Defamation League raised the alarm over antisemitic tropes and comments that appeared to praise Adolf Hitler, reportedly generated or shared by the chatbot.

Tesla did not respond to immediate requests for comment regarding the integration or the ongoing backlash. xAI has also not issued any public apology or clarification on the matter.

The scandal adds to growing scrutiny around Musk’s approach to content moderation and AI safety. Critics argue that the rapid rollout of AI tools like Grok—especially in vehicles—raises ethical and safety concerns, particularly when the technology is already generating hate-fuelled content.

This isn’t the first time Musk has stoked controversy through his ventures. From polarising tweets to clashes with regulators, the billionaire entrepreneur has a long history of courting public outrage. But the decision to move forward with embedding a contentious AI tool into vehicles—especially ones used in motion and by families—has left many observers stunned.

Meanwhile, Tesla continues to push forward with its product ecosystem, and Grok appears central to Musk’s long-term vision. The chatbot is expected to serve as an intelligent interface for Tesla drivers, potentially providing conversational navigation assistance, entertainment, and vehicle control queries.

Musk has previously described Grok as “rebellious” and “not woke”, positioning it as a provocative alternative to more cautious AI platforms. That positioning, however, now faces intense scrutiny.

The backlash coincides with Grok’s launch timing, casting a shadow over what was likely intended as a major tech milestone. What should have been a bold leap in smart automotive technology has quickly become mired in reputational damage and questions of responsibility.

Editing of the original story was handled by Mrigank Dhaniwala and Maju Samuel. Reporting came from Deborah Sophia in Bengaluru.

At the time of publishing, neither Musk nor representatives from xAI have offered a public response addressing the offensive outputs or the broader implications of deploying Grok in consumer vehicles.

With Grok’s installation on Tesla dashboards imminent, the question remains: how will drivers, regulators, and the wider public react when a chatbot facing accusations of antisemitism is made available on public roads?