AI Is Growing Up, and So Should Its Users
A ‘Hitler Moment’ That Feels Dated
In June 2025, Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok stirred up outrage when it stated, “Hitler did good things too,” in response to a user’s prompt. As expected, the internet lit up—memes, criticism, and outrage poured in. But for seasoned AI watchers, this wasn’t a shocking event. It was a tired replay of a pattern we’ve seen since the days of Microsoft’s Tay or the early missteps of ChatGPT. The reaction felt more like déjà vu than scandal.
Prompt Engineering for Controversy Is Played Out
In 2021, tricking an AI into making offensive statements felt novel. But in 2025, it feels stale. As AI becomes more sophisticated, the bar for meaningful engagement has risen. Deliberately provoking AI into controversy isn’t just immature—it’s out of touch with how these tools are actually being used.
Today’s AI Users Want Results
Today’s AI users are running businesses, designing code, crafting lesson plans, and streamlining workflows. They’re not interested in childish games—they want intelligent collaboration. The typical AI user today is a lawyer, an entrepreneur, a student, or a teacher—not someone testing the system’s “shock factor.”
The Grok Incident Is a User Problem
Yes, AI moderation can improve, and systems need better guardrails. But the Grok incident isn’t a failure of technology—it’s a failure of user intent. Provoking AI for shock value reflects more on the user than the tool. It’s like using a microscope to hammer a nail—technically possible, but completely missing the point.
From Gimmicks to Groundbreaking
With models like GPT-4o handling multimodal input, Claude summarizing books, and Gemini writing complex code, we’re entering an era of real transformation. Trying to get an AI to say something edgy today feels like hacking a calculator to spell “BOOBS”—it’s been done, and no one’s impressed.
Time to Raise the Standard
It’s time for users to evolve. Intelligent tools deserve intelligent interaction. AI should be encouraged to handle difficult conversations with nuance and accuracy, and users should approach it with maturity and purpose. We need fewer stunts and more stories of AI creating real impact.
