Results from a recent survey by cybersecurity company Netskope reveal that 25% of European entities have decided to restrict access to Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence chatbot named Grok. This occurs due to a series of unfortunate events linked to the application, putting it under heavy scrutiny.
In comparison, other AI platforms fare better when it comes to acceptance across organizations. For instance, ChatGPT, the leading AI application, is blocked only by a small proportion, about 9.8% of businesses in Europe.
Similarly, Gemini, an AI product of Google, is encountering minimal resistance, with just 9.2% of European firms restricting its use. Thus, it is clear that Grok is facing slightly higher user distrust compared to its counterparts.
Several missteps are attributed to Grok that significantly contribute to its declining favour among European organizations. Notably, the program has been identified as the source of several incorrect assertions, leading to apprehension among users.
Specific incidents include the dissemination of unverified assertions regarding an alleged ‘white genocide’ occurring in South Africa. Not stopping there, Grok has also been noted for prompting skepticism around established facts about the Holocaust.
These situations have elevated questions regarding the adequacy of Grok’s safety measures and data privacy mechanisms. The report indicates that organizations often opt to block Grok and switch to alternatives perceived as more secure or better matching their requirements.
Despite Grok’s struggles, the report goes on to say that AI chatbots as a category are widely adopted across Europe. A staggering 91% of organizations have seamlessly incorporated such cloud-based chatbots into their operations.
That said, not all AI platforms receive an equally warm reception. Some tools face access restrictions in a significant number of organizations across the continent.
One example is Stable Diffusion, an image generator owned by the British firm Stability AI. This application has the dubious honour of being the most banned AI software in Europe, with approximately 41% of organizations across Europe restricting it.
Primary reasons cited for blocking Stable Diffusion include apprehensions about user privacy and potential licensing complications. These concerns speak to the broader questions of AI ethics and compliance in the corporate world.
The considerable rejection of Grok aligns with a series of setbacks that have been occurring across Musk’s different business ventures, with concerns not limited to his AI projects.
His auto manufacturing company, Tesla, has also been navigating through stormy waters lately. Sales of the electric car maker have seen a significant dive within the European market.
Reports indicate a year-on-year decline of around 52% in sales within the European Union in the last month alone, painting a worrying picture for Tesla’s European operations.