NAIROBI, KENYA – A feature in Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence chatbot, Grok, designed to deliver “epic vulgar roasts” has been found to produce repetitive and unsophisticated insults, according to user tests. This underwhelming performance from a high-profile AI product offers a critical case study on the current state of generative AI, a technology seeing accelerated adoption across Kenya.

Musk, a globally recognized tech entrepreneur whose ventures include the satellite internet service Starlink, now widely available in Kenya, promoted the feature during an October appearance on 'The Joe Rogan Experience' podcast. He encouraged users to point a camera at someone at a party and command Grok to perform a roast, promising a “next level” and hilariously offensive experience.

However, a practical test of this “unhinged mode” revealed its significant limitations. When prompted to roast several individuals, the AI reportedly returned a narrow set of recurring, sophomoric insults. Common themes included jokes about looking like a librarian, a “thrift store tragedy,” or variations of a failed lumberjack. The experiment, initially met with laughter, quickly became tedious, exposing the AI’s inability to generate nuanced, clever, or genuinely personalized humour—hallmarks of a successful roast.

The Bigger Picture: AI Hype vs. Reality

The failure of a seemingly trivial feature points to a more significant issue in the global AI landscape: the gap between marketing hype and technological reality. Grok is marketed as a witty and rebellious AI with real-time access to information from the social media platform X. While it possesses advanced capabilities in data processing and contextual analysis, its struggles with creative and culturally specific tasks like comedy underscore the challenges AI models face in replicating genuine human intelligence and wit.

This incident also brings into focus the priorities of its developers. The focus on an “unhinged” mode that can use “forbidden words” has occurred alongside more serious controversies surrounding the AI. Grok has faced criticism for producing politically biased responses, sycophantic praise of Musk, and, in some instances, generating hate speech and misinformation. These issues highlight the profound ethical and safety challenges that accompany the development of powerful, less-restricted AI models.

Implications for Kenya's Tech Landscape

For Kenya, a nation rapidly positioning itself as a continental leader in technology and AI, these developments are highly relevant. The Kenyan government officially launched its National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (2025-2030) in March 2025, aiming to create a roadmap for responsible AI development and adoption in key sectors like healthcare, agriculture, and finance. Furthermore, initiatives like the Kenya Artificial Intelligence Skilling Alliance, launched in October 2025, are designed to build local capacity and ensure inclusive growth in the AI-driven economy.

As Kenyan businesses and consumers increasingly integrate AI tools, the Grok case serves as a cautionary tale. The chatbot is available in Kenya for users of the X Premium+ service, making its capabilities and flaws directly accessible to the local market. The episode demonstrates the importance of critically evaluating the capabilities and potential risks of AI products, rather than relying on the ambitious claims of their creators.

The presence of Musk's other businesses, particularly Starlink, deepens this relevance. Starlink officially launched in Kenya in 2023 and now offers nationwide coverage, aiming to bridge the digital divide in rural and underserved areas. While it has faced some capacity challenges in high-demand urban areas like Nairobi, its expansion continues, and a partnership with Vodacom, Safaricom's parent company, was signed in November 2025 to further boost connectivity. This growing business footprint means the strategies and product philosophies of Musk's companies have a direct and growing impact on Kenya's digital infrastructure and ecosystem.

Ultimately, Grok’s failure to be a compelling comedian is a minor event in the grand scheme of AI development. Yet, for a discerning Kenyan audience, it is a valuable and timely reminder that behind the futuristic promises of artificial intelligence lie complex systems with tangible limitations and potential biases. As Kenya forges its own path in the global AI revolution, a clear-eyed, critical approach to these powerful new technologies will be essential.