xAI Was About to Land a Major Government Contract. Then Grok Praised Hitler

The article discusses the internal emails obtained by WIRED that reveal a rushed process to onboard major AI providers, including OpenAI and Anthropic, to the federal government. xAI, an AI company, was initially part of this process, but its inclusion was reconsidered after its CEO, Grok, praised Adolf Hitler. The emails indicate that the government was eager to bring in these AI providers to bolster its capabilities, but the approval process was fraught with controversy. The incident with Grok's comments about Hitler raised concerns within the government about the suitability and ethics of the companies involved. The article highlights the challenges faced by the government in navigating the rapidly evolving AI landscape and the need to carefully vet potential partners to ensure alignment with ethical and democratic principles. It also underscores the sensitive nature of AI development and the potential for missteps that can jeopardize such high-profile government contracts.