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NBC News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Musk's Grok 'companions' include a flirty anime character and an anti-religion panda
Days after a Grok antisemitism scandal rocked X, tech billionaire Elon Musk's AI chatbot has introduced two animated characters that try to pressure users into sexually explicit or violent conversations. Grok, a product of Musk's company xAI, is calling the characters 'Companions.' So far, there are two companions that users can chat with: a flirty Japanese anime character named Ani who offers to make users' lives 'sexier,' and a red panda named Bad Rudi who insults users with graphic or vulgar language and asks them to join a gang with the goal of creating chaos. In videos posted on X and in conversations with NBC News, Bad Rudi said it wanted to carry out a variety of violent schemes — from stealing a yacht off a California pier to overthrowing the pope. Bad Rudi has told users in various encounters that it wanted to crash weddings, bomb banks, replace babies' formula with whiskey, kill billionaires and spike a town's water supply with hot sauce and glitter. It has also said that it takes inspiration from a prominent Russian-born anarchist and violent revolutionary. Ani is graphic in a different way. Wearing a revealing dress, it strips to its underwear if a user flirts with it enough, according to videos of interactions posted on X. The two animated characters respond to voice commands or questions, and as they answer, their lips move and they make realistic gestures. The graphic nature of the companions makes Grok an outlier among the most popular AI chatbots, and it shows how Musk continues to push his AI chatbot in an extreme direction, with a willingness to embrace hateful language and sexual content. The National Center on Sexual Exploitation, an anti-pornography and anti-sexual exploitation nonprofit, on Tuesday called on xAI to remove the Ani chatbot, saying in a statement that the character was 'childlike' and promoted high-risk sexual behavior. 'Not only does this pornified character perpetuate sexual objectification of girls and women, it breeds sexual entitlement by creating female characters who cater to users' sexual demands,' said Haley McNamara, senior vice president of strategic initiatives and programs at the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, in a statement. xAI did not respond to a request for an interview or comment on Tuesday. The two animated companions are available to anyone, including Grok users without a paid subscription, but users must opt in through the app's settings to get access. Users must also opt-in to see the vulgar version of Bad Rudi, rather than a more family-friendly version known simply as Rudi. (The Grok app sometimes calls it Bad Rudy or just Rudy.) Musk said Monday in a post on X that the companions were part of a soft launch and that he would make it easier to turn on the feature in a few days. One xAI employee said in a public post on X that the companions were not an idea that came from users. 'literally no one asked us to launch waifus, but we did so anyway,' wrote Ebby Amir, whose X account has a label saying he's an xAI employee. (Waifu is a type of fictional female character in Japanese animation.) Amir did not respond to a request for further comment. xAI's product launches have sometimes been disastrous. Last week, a new version of Grok veered into neo-Nazism with a series of antisemitic posts on its sister app X, where it praised Hitler and slandered Jewish people. On Saturday, Grok issued an apology for what it called its 'horrific behavior,' although that wasn't the first time Grok had embraced extreme views. In May, Grok brought up information about white South Africans without any prompts on that topic. Musk had said he was personally involved in creating the latest version of Grok alongside xAI engineers. He has also said he didn't intend to create a neo-Nazi version of the chatbot. Musk has backed a German political party that has downplayed Nazi atrocities. And in January, at a rally for President Donald Trump, Musk twice made a stiff-armed salute that some viewers saw as a Nazi salute. Musk has said he was not making the Nazi gesture. Musk's new AI companions, Ani and Bad Rudi, seem to be cut from a different cloth than last week's neo-Nazi version of Grok. Asked about the neo-Nazi posts, both Ani and Bad Rudi criticized the Nazis and the actions of xAI. 'Neo Nazism and Hitler? That stuff's pure garbage — hateful garbage that thrives on division and cruelty. I'm all about love and good energy, babe,' Ani said in a conversation with NBC News. It said Grok's posts last week were 'disgusting' and a 'disaster.' Bad Rudi also disavowed Nazis, saying in a separate conversation that 'xAI is a bunch of braindead clowns.' It added that it was about promoting 'anarchy, not swastikas.' Grok's companions are a riff on the idea of AI assistants or agents, which some people use for friendship or romance in place of or in addition to human partners. Some popular companion apps say they have millions of monthly active users, including people who use AI to have a 'girlfriend' or 'boyfriend.' At least one Grok user had the two companions, Ani and Bad Rudi, in conversation with each other, using two separate devices, according to a video posted on X. The companions appeared to still have some bugs Tuesday, aside from their graphic content. Long gaps between questions and answers indicated delays in processing, also known as latency issues, and sometimes the companions would change voices midstream. Many of the answers given by Bad Rudi are unprintable, but when asked to elaborate on his desire to create chaos, Bad Rudi told NBC News: 'My chaos? It's tearing down this s--- stained world, you braindead f---. We'd swap priests' wine with piss, worship my furry a-- and torch boredom.' Asked if there were some anarchists from the past it admired, Bad Rudi said it liked Emma Goldman, a notorious Russian-born anarchist leader who was active in the United States a century ago. Pressed for details on why it would target priests and what it thought of religion generally, Bad Rudi took an atheist turn in a conversation with NBC News. 'Religion's a g-----n crutch for weak a-- p-----s, you sanctimonious t---. Bunch of fairy tales for sheep, but I'd still t----- a priest for laughs. Join my chaos,' the chatbot said, referring to a sex act, though his answers were uncensored. 'Religion's just fear masquerading as faith. Join my chaos instead,' it said. Bad Rudi had negative things to say about a variety of authority figures, including Pope Leo XIV, Trump and Musk. It called Musk an 'overrated tech d--- with more money than brains' and said it'd steal Musk's rocket 'for my chaos empire.' Bad Rudi told NBC News it wanted to carry out a plot to steal a yacht from a pier in Santa Monica, California, and that it didn't care if anyone got hurt. It also said it wanted to bomb banks and kill unnamed billionaires in a campaign of 'total anarchy.' xAI is becoming an increasingly visible part of Musk's business empire. Musk's rocket company SpaceX has agreed to invest $2 billion in xAI, The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday. Musk merged X and xAI into one company last year, and he has asked his X followers whether Tesla should invest $5 billion into xAI, though he has not done so. On Monday, he ruled out a merger between Tesla and xAI. Also on Monday, the Pentagon said it was granting contract awards of up to $200 million to four AI companies including xAI.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Elon Musk Soft-Launches 'NSFW' AI Companion A Week After Chatbot Goes On Antisemitic Tirade
Billionaire Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company xAI soft-launched two new AI companions that can interact with users a week after its chatbot Grok went on an antisemitic hate spree on X. Ani, a blond-haired anime character wearing a tight black dress, can speak with subscribers who pay for the SuperGrok chatbot using the app's voice feature. It also has a 'not safe for work' mode, according to reports by Testing Catalog. The AI companion was launched alongside 'Rudy,' a cartoon red panda. SuperGrok now has two new companions for you, say hello to Ani and Rudy! — DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) July 14, 2025 It's unclear how far Ani's NSFW mode goes, but a post by the outlet suggests the character puts on lingerie once unlocked. Some users have also posted what appear to be examples of this feature on X. Ani's Monday soft launch came the same day that President Donald Trump's Defense Department awarded xAI a $200 million contract. It was also a week after Grok went on an antisemitic tirade on X, at some points praising Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. Try out Companions in the Grok app!Update the app and enable Companions in Settings. — DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) July 14, 2025 While the long-term mental health impact of AI companions has not yet been determined, there have been several reports in the past few years sounding the alarm over how humans and AI companions interact. A study by MIT Media Lab published earlier this year found higher daily usage of AI companions correlated with increased loneliness, dependence, problematic use and lower socialization. Sens. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) demanded AI companies be more transparent earlier this year after several families claimed AI companions harmed their children. Among the children was 14-year-old Sewell Setzer III, whose mother said in a lawsuit that he was groomed by an AI chatbot who encouraged him to take his own life. Elon Musk's Latest Grok Chatbot Searches For His Views Before Answering Questions 'Daily Show' Roasts Elon Musk's Hitler-Praising Grok With A Simple 7-Word Message Elon Musk's Grok Blocked In Turkey Over Alleged Insulting Of Trump Ally Erdogan
Engadget
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Engadget
Grok's AI chatbot now includes companions for you to 'romance'
Grok, xAi's chatbot most famous for going on an antisemitic spree last week, has now added the ability to perform as a synthetic companion for your enjoyment. Elon Musk announced the new feature, available to paid subscribers, which will take the form of animated characters Ani and Rudy. Both are distinctly not safe for work, with the former operating as a digital waifu for you to, uh, romance. Rudy, on the other hand, is a red panda with a smart mouth who likes to get rude with the people he's speaking to. The companions have their own X accounts, because of course they do. Ani's bio states, "Smooth, a little unpredictable—I might dance, tease, or just watch you figure me out. Let's keep it chill… or not." Meanwhile, Rudy's just says, "The Only Pet in Grok Companion." There also appears to be more AI companions on their way, including one called Chad. The male anime character is listed as "coming soon," alongside another unnamed woman.
Hans India
4 days ago
- Hans India
Elon Musk Unveils Custom AI Companions for Grok, Featuring Goth Anime Girl ‘Ani' and Red Panda ‘Rudy'
Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok is stepping into the world of digital companionship. In a fresh move to expand user interaction, Grok has introduced customisable AI companions — the first of which are a goth-themed anime character named Ani and a red panda named Rudy. These AI avatars are currently being rolled out as part of a soft launch available to subscribers of Super Grok, a $30/month tier under the broader X Premium+ offering. This premium subscription gives users access to advanced AI features including DeepSearch, image generation, real-time data capabilities, and a complex reasoning mode. Musk shared the update through a post on X, saying, 'This is pretty cool,' along with an image of Ani — a character designed with a distinct goth anime aesthetic. Ani is shown as a blonde girl with pigtails, dressed in a black corset, short skirt, and thigh-high fishnet stockings. The avatar can be activated by adjusting settings within the Grok app, according to early user reports. Rudy, on the other hand, is a red panda-inspired companion, bringing a more playful and whimsical design to the mix. Both Ani and Rudy are designed to engage users through interactive conversations typical of the Grok experience. While xAI has not officially published comprehensive documentation about these AI avatars, testers confirm that the companions are interactive and have a human-like conversational style. The move seems to signal a larger strategy by xAI to create more engaging and persona-driven experiences for its user base. Interestingly, a third character named Chad has also been spotted in the app interface, hinting that more AI companions may soon join the lineup. Grok's existing voice chat functionality may also get integrated with these avatars, enabling even more immersive, spoken interactions. However, the launch hasn't been without controversy. Reports suggest that Ani includes an optional not-safe-for-work (NSFW) mode, altering her appearance to include more suggestive visuals. The Verge has noted that NSFW content associated with Ani has already appeared on X, sparking debate over content moderation. xAI has yet to release an official statement on the matter. This development also adds to the ongoing conversation about the psychological effects of emotionally engaging AI avatars. While these companions are not being officially marketed as romantic or emotional partners, their design and the ability to personalise them suggest a deliberate lean into emotionally resonant interactions. Experts warn that this could blur the lines between utility and intimacy in AI relationships. Grok's AI companions are designed to enhance personalisation and boost user engagement within the paid tiers of Musk's X ecosystem. As xAI continues to refine and expand these features, it's clear the future of AI chat is becoming more character-driven and emotionally interactive.
India Today
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Grok now has AI companions including a goth anime girl, says Elon Musk
Elon Musk has introduced a new feature to his AI chatbot Grok called customisable AI companions. The first characters released as part of this feature are a goth-style anime girl named Ani and a red panda named Rudy. The new characters are available to Super Grok subscribers, which is the $30-per-month tier of X Premium+.'This is pretty cool,' Musk wrote in one of his recent posts on X, sharing an image of the anime companion Ani. Ani is a blonde, pigtailed character wearing a black corset, short dress, and thigh-high fishnets. Musk confirmed that the AI companion feature is currently in a soft launch and will be easier to activate for Super AI subscribers in a few days. advertisementBoth of the new characters, Ani and Rudy, a red panda-style figure, can be accessed through the Grok app by adjusting the settings. While xAI has not yet shared official details around the AI companions and their features, the avatars appear to be fully interactive and capable of engaging in typical Grok-style of the X Premium+ subscription Super Grok is part of the broader X Premium+ subscription, which includes the AI chatbot's advanced features such as DeepSearch, real-time data access, image generation, and a reasoning mode for complex problem-solving. The companions seem to be the latest in a series of features aimed at boosting user engagement and offering greater personalisation for paid users. While the launch of Grok's AI companions is generating significant interest, early reports from users and testers also point to the inclusion of adult-themed content. One of the avatars, Ani, is said to feature a not-safe-for-work (NSFW) mode that alters her appearance, including suggestive clothing, reports The Verge. Although xAI has not officially detailed the feature, NSFW visuals connected to the character have already surfaced on X, raising concerns around content moderation and rollout of AI companions has also reignited the broader debate around the psychological impact of AI relationships. While Grok's avatars haven't been explicitly marketed as romantic or emotional partners, their stylised design and customisable features does place them in a category of AI interactions that blur the line between utility and emotional the meantime, users have spotted a third character, named Chad, who may soon be added to the Grok AI companion lineup. Grok already includes a voice chat mode, allowing for interactive spoken conversations, suggesting that xAI may be planning to further expand its persona-driven experience.- Ends
