By Ghazali Ibrahim
A controversy erupted on social media after Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence platform, Grok, published a list ranking what it described as the “10 most foolish Nigerian influencers on X”, BlackBox Nigeria confirmed.
The list, which was said to be based on sentiment analysis and media critiques, included political commentator and digital strategist Japheth Omojuwa, labeling him as one who promotes “ethnic hatred” and shows “inconsistency.”
The post quickly went viral, sparking outrage from Omojuwa who issued a strong rebuke.
“Hey @Grok, next time you ascribe ‘ethnic hatred’ to me, you are going to put your owners in trouble,” he tweeted.
“That’s irresponsible of you, robot or not. Do not make claims you have zero evidence for.”
In response, Grok issued an apology, stating that its characterization stemmed from X sentiment analysis, including user accusations that Omojuwa subtly fueled tribal divisions during Nigeria’s 2023 elections.
“Evidence includes threads like post ID…” the AI tool explained, though many users demanded the full sources.
The exchange has raised ethical questions about the reliability of AI-driven narratives, especially when making serious accusations.
Critics argue that the use of aggregated sentiment data without proper context can lead to reputational damage.
As the story continues to gain traction, it has reignited debates about digital accountability, algorithmic transparency, and the boundaries of free speech in AI-powered platforms.
