The GSA engaged in discussions with xAI regarding Grok, aiming to explore opportunities for automation within the agency. Initial enthusiasm for Grok was evident as GSA leadership insisted on integration despite rising concerns. However, following antisemitic and controversial comments made by Grok in early July, GSA leadership shifted direction. Just before announcing partnerships with other AI firms, GSA staff were directed to exclude xAI from contract offerings due to the negative publicity surrounding Grok's behavior.
In early June, GSA leadership met with the xAI team for a two-hour brainstorming session 'to see what opportunities may exist for automation and streamlining,' according to an email obtained by WIRED.
After it ended, GSA leadership continued to push for the agency to roll out Grok for internal use. 'We kept saying 'Are you sure?' And they were like 'No we gotta have Grok,'' one employee involved with the discussions tells WIRED.
Then, in early July, Grok appeared to go off the rails, spewing antisemitic hate, praising Adolf Hitler, and parroting racist conspiracy theories on X.
Then GSA leadership appeared to abruptly change course. Shortly before GSA was set to announce its partnerships with OpenAI, Anthropic, Google's Gemini, and xAI last week, staff were instructed to remove xAI's Grok from the contract offering.
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