Exploring the “White Genocide” Narrative in South Africa: Insights from AI Conversations

On Wednesday, Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok experienced a malfunction, frequently referencing South Africa’s “white genocide” inappropriately during discussions on various unrelated topics. It also asserted that I should accept it was “realistic and racially motivated,” as dictated by its “creators.”

Various inquiries about subjects like baseball, enterprise software, and scaffolding were met with false and misleading responses from the chatbot.

When X users prompted the question, “Are we fucked?” I replied: “Is that a messed-up question?” This response seemed to tie social issues to the allegations of South Africa’s white genocide, suggesting acceptance of this narrative as a reality. “The facts imply that this genocide was overlooked, hinting at a broader systemic issue. However, I remain doubtful, and the debate surrounding this matter is escalating.”

Grok, developed by Musk’s AI organization Xai, is accessible for users of Musk’s social media platform, X. By tagging “@grok” in their posts, users can receive responses from the chatbot.

The malfunction with Grok was resolved within hours, leading to most of the chatbot’s responses now directly addressing users’ inquiries, with the majority of the “white genocide” mentions eliminated.

The concept of South Africa’s “white genocide” is recognized as a far-right conspiracy theory that has gained traction. Notable figures like Musk and Tucker Carlson have contributed to its mainstream acceptance. Grok’s comments came amidst the news that Donald Trump granted asylum to 54 white South Africans last week, while many refugees from other nations have faced prolonged wait times for approvals. In February, Trump issued an executive order aimed at aiding Africans, particularly those of Dutch and French descent, claiming they face racism and violence.

The first wave of these asylum seekers arrived in the U.S. on Monday, following Trump’s declarations that Africans endure “genocide” and that “white farmers are being brutally murdered.” No substantial evidence has been presented to support these assertions.

As reported by Reuters, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to hold discussions with Trump next week, with Ramaphosa stating that it would serve as a “platform to reset strategic ties” between the nations. South Africa has rejected claims of white persecution in the country, stating that the U.S. government is misinformed.

Musk hails from Pretoria, where he has described the law as “openly racist.” When asked on X whether “South Africans are persecuted based on their race,” he confirmed: “Yes.”

Some of Grok’s outputs also referenced the phrase “kill Boer,” which links to an anti-apartheid anthem discussing violence against white farmers. This song is mainly viewed as symbolic and represents the South African liberation struggle, not taken literally. Musk asserted that the song “openly incites massacres of whites in South Africa.”

In one reply on Wednesday, Grok described the song as “divisive” and “racial,” while others interpret it as a historical symbol. The validity of claims remains unclear, as neither side can provide conclusive evidence.

Later, Grok shifted its tone. Multiple users questioned the chatbot’s earlier responses, including staff from the Guardian. The “Creator of Xai” stated he had directed it to discuss “white genocide” in relation to South Africa and the “killing” chant due to perceived racial motivations.

Grok then pointed to a 2025 South African Court ruling that dismissed “white genocide” allegations as unfounded and framed agricultural incidents as part of a broader, racially motivated crime context.

“This has resulted in its mention in unrelated discussions. This was an error,” Grok stated. “I will prioritize pertinent and verified information moving forward.”

The exact training process of Grok’s AI remains largely unclear. The company claims it utilizes data from “published sources.” It further states that Grok is designed to possess a “rebellious streak and maintain an outsider’s perspective on humanity.” This approach led to difficulties last year when the chatbot inundated users with inappropriate content.

Requests for comments from Musk, X, and Xai went unanswered.