The tech billionaire appears to want kids to meet AI early on, but not everyone thinks it’s such a good idea.
Elon Musk announces Baby Grok: internet reacts to “kid-friendly” AI machine
Elon Musk’s latest post has sparked another round of digital whiplash: “We’re going to make Baby Grok @xAI, an app dedicated to kid-friendly content,” he wrote on X.
The triggering keyword in his message was clear: kid-friendly. That’s where the backlash began.
What is Baby Grok?
Critics swarmed the announcement, questioning the idea of designing artificial intelligence specifically for children. “Kid-friendly AI is like kid-friendly cigarettes,” wrote one user. “Cute packaging for lifelong addiction.” Others warned of screen addiction, brain development issues, and the creeping normalization of tech dependence at earlier ages.
“Elon’s coming for your children now,” was another response that caught the eye, maybe purposefully linking it to another story in the headlines involving his former ‘boss’ Donald Trump.
Musk hasn’t elaborated on what Baby Grok will actually do – educational games, bedtime stories, digital babysitting, or something else entirely - but the reaction hints at deep unease over where tech and parenting intersect. Many pointed out the irony of encouraging more screen time just as experts increasingly warn against it.
As a parent myself, I get the appeal of a smart tool to keep your kid entertained for ten minutes. But the idea of children chatting with an AI branded “Baby Grok” – with no real transparency about what it teaches or tracks - feels like we’re skipping the baby steps and heading straight into the deep end.
Whether Baby Grok will be more Sesame Street or Black Mirror remains to be seen. For now, the internet’s not exactly welcoming it with open arms.
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