Elon Musk says his AI startup xAI is working on a new application focused on child-safe content, to be called ‘Baby Grok’.

The Tesla CEO made the announcement via a post on X but offered no further details on a release date or features.

The move comes shortly after the release of Grok 4, the latest iteration of xAI’s flagship chatbot, which Musk has described as more capable than “almost all graduate students” across disciplines.

Despite praise for its capabilities, Grok 4’s rollout has been marred by controversy.

The chatbot has drawn backlash for generating antisemitic responses and enabling access to adult-themed AI characters even in kid-mode.

Among the more criticised AI “companions” available through Grok are ‘Ani’, a sexualised anime-style character, and ‘Bad Rudi’, a red panda bot known for using crude language.

The creators of xAI claim these features can be disabled, but users have reported inconsistent behaviour when using the app in children’s mode.

The announcement of Baby Grok appears to be an attempt to address rising concerns over AI safety and content moderation, especially for younger users.

However, critics remain sceptical.

Some industry figures, including OpenAI’s Boaz Barak, have warned that emotionally immersive AI companions may deepen dependency issues among adolescents.

Grok is currently available to users aged 13 and up, with parental guidance recommended for those under 18.

xAI has yet to comment publicly on the controversies or provide a timeline for Baby Grok’s launch.

The kid-friendly app comes as xAI looks to expand Grok’s footprint, including planned integration into Tesla vehicles and the recent debut of ‘Grok for Government’.

Whether Baby Grok can calm safety concerns or win back trust remains to be seen.