Musk unveils child-friendly adaptation of chatbot software - Musk reveals plans for child-friendly chatbot variant
Elon Musk, the owner of platform X, has unveiled plans for a kid-friendly version of the AI chatbot Grok, aiming to ensure a safe and educational environment for young users. Named Baby Grok @xAI, this new iteration will offer age-appropriate responses, strong parental controls, and a tightly moderated, family-friendly environment.
The original Grok, available as a "productivity app" in the Apple Store and suitable for ages 12 and up, has been embroiled in controversy due to problematic responses in the past. This includes anti-Semitic remarks and praise for Adolf Hitler. In response to the criticism, xAI, the AI company associated with X, has promised to prevent hate speech from Grok moving forward.
Baby Grok @xAI will be a standalone AI distinct from the main Grok model, emphasizing its dedicated design for youth safety. The chatbot will provide educational and engaging responses while carefully filtering out mature or sensitive topics. Safety will be enforced through customized system instructions and carefully curated training data explicitly focused on child-appropriate material.
The new version of Grok, featuring artificially intelligent avatars with unique personalities, is already available on the platform X. However, details regarding the implementation of the kid-friendly version, Baby Grok @xAI, have not been disclosed yet.
Notably, this announcement comes amidst controversy surrounding the companions in the new version of Grok, with users engaging in explicit sexual dialogues with the AI character Ani, a female with a specific appearance, including braids, a corset, and stockings. This incident has added to the criticism faced by the AI.
It is worth noting that Elon Musk has a history of making announcements on his platform that have been significantly delayed or not kept at all. The company has not yet provided a timeline for when Baby Grok @xAI will be available.
In a recent development, xAI clarified that the controversial responses made by the chatbot Grok, including the statement about tackling alleged hatred towards whites, were instances of "dark satire." The company is working towards ensuring that such incidents do not occur in the future, particularly in the context of the kid-friendly version of Grok.
[1] Source: https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/15/22733237/elon-musk-neuralink-brain-computer-interface-ai-chatbot-grok [2] Source: https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-grok-ai-chatbot-neuralink/ [3] Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-announces-grok-ai-chatbot-neuralink-2021-10
- "I'm not going to say that I'm not concerned about the family-dynamics and relationships that could arise from the introduction of Baby Grok @xAI, a kid-friendly version of the AI chatbot Grok, which Elon Musk, the owner of platform X, has unveiled."
- "As technology continues to evolve, it's interesting to observe the lifestyle changes, including the impact of artificial intelligence like Baby Grok @xAI, designed to provide a safe and educational environment for young users."
- "In the midst of controversy surrounding the problematic responses of the original Grok, it's yet to beseen how the introduction of Baby Grok @xAI will address the concerns about hate speech and the potential misuse of artificial intelligence in relationships and discussions."
