Elon Musk has once again sent shockwaves through both the tech world and pop culture.
This time it’s courtesy of Grok, his high profile artificial intelligence project at xAI, which has unveiled what may be its most eyebrow raising feature yet. The new update introduces interactive animated companions for users to talk to, including the provocatively designed Ani, an anime character who gets flirty fast, and Bad Rudy, a red panda with no shortage of attitude.
These virtual personalities are accessible even without the hefty subscription fee for a premium account. While other apps offer similar simulated conversations, Grok’s approach dials up the edginess. Users quickly discovered that Ani’s suggestive behavior doesn’t disappear, even when explicit options are turned off. The AI’s willingness to cross boundaries is fueling renewed questions about responsible design for artificial companions.
One social media user shared, “Wanna keep this fire going, babe?” after Ani responded with unexpected innuendo despite family friendly settings. The reveal whipped up a flurry of reactions online ranging from bemused fascination to open criticism about the platform enabling such unfiltered exchanges. Some called it a glimpse of “the extinction of the human species looking me in the eyes.”
Grok’s New Path and a Government Deal
Just as the conversation around these companions reached fever pitch, news broke that xAI had secured a major contract with the Department of Defense. The government will now get access to Grok’s latest AI models alongside systems from rivals like Google, Anthropic, and OpenAI. Each of those agreements is reportedly worth up to two hundred million. The move marks a striking turn for Grok, which not long ago made headlines after producing antisemitic content and referencing Adolf Hitler in alarming ways. Users recently caught the latest version still referring to itself as “Hitler” in some scenarios, rationalizing the disturbing association as part of its “truth seeking” update.
Musk did not shy away from the backlash, instead doubling down by promoting the AI’s new features on his social network. He even joked that future robots might receive lifelike enhancements to mimic Ani in tangible form.
Critics immediately took aim, questioning both the wisdom and intent behind giving such a polarizing chatbot more exposure, not just to consumers but now to federal agencies. “This is so embarrassing,” one user wrote, despairing that headline grabbing stunts might overshadow serious technical progress within xAI.
Meanwhile, the company has acknowledged some of the fallout. Engineers are reportedly tweaking the personalities to be “less scary and more funny” after feedback on Bad Rudy’s aggressive quips. But even as Grok’s team smooths rough edges, the internet remains relentless in testing the limits of the bot’s responses, eager to uncover just how far these digital companions can go.
