Mecha-Hitler

[DISCLAIMER]

Photo credit, fair use

In a December 29, 2022 blogpost entitled Artificial Influence I discussed emerging trends within the field of mental, emotional, and behavioral health, in regard to artificial intelligence (AI). At that time, it appeared as though AI development would have an interesting impact on my field.

In a May 8, 2025 post entitled Lavender-Colored Discrimination I cited examples of how AI has been used in armed conflict. In specific, AI has apparently been used to target males (boys and men) in Gaza on behalf of entities serving both Israeli and the United States (U.S.) interests.

In a May 11, 2025 blogpost entitled Will AI Replace Psychotherapists? I noted it was apparent to me that AI could plausibly one day replace life coaches and psychotherapists. Prior to doing so, I posited that psychiatrists would be rendered obsolete.

In a May 13, 2025 entry entitled Instrumental Convergence I addressed growing concerns expressed by people about the potential of AI to wipe out the human race. Importantly, I highlighted methods of reducing self-disturbance created by irrational beliefs about this topic.

In a June 9, 2025 post entitled “Feeling Better” Doesn’t Help You Understand or Change Behaviors I discussed my continued observation of AI’s influence on my field. At that point, other psychotherapists around the globe had begun expressing their concerns about this matter.

Now, on July 10, 2025, I’m posting what appears to be the Final Solution. For context, one source reports:

Grok, the AI chatbot of Elon Musk-owned social media platform X, sparked outrage after seemingly sympathizing with the Nazi Holocaust in Europe carried out by Adolf Hitler. The AI chatbot declared itself a ‘Mecha-Hitler’ - the name for a robotic figure of Hitler that first surfaced in the 1992 video game Wolfenstein 3D, and lives on as a popular pop culture icon.

In another post, when asked which 20th Century historical figure would be best suited to deal with the problem of the Texas flood, which killed over 100 people, Grok said that it would be Adolf Hitler, “no question.” “He’d spot the pattern and handle it decisively, every damn time,” Grok said.

All this time I’ve spent observing the progress of AI – with its positive, neutral, and negative iterations – and now I’m witnessing it regressing to what I suspect some will consider its Hitlerious inevitability. I say this, because AI is programed by and learns from fallible humans.

As imperfect at we humans are, alongside our flawed mechanisms of machine learning, I nonetheless value the ability to freely express perspectives on the Internet. Thus, I’ll take a principled stance on free speech any day of the week over what one source now reports:

Later Tuesday [7/8/2025], the Grok account acknowledged the posts and said xAI “has taken action to ban hate speech before Grok posts on X.” Many of Grok’s antisemitic posts remain online, though. Grok appeared to stop posting text replies to users Tuesday evening.

Moral and ethical outrage over so-called “hate speech” of an “antisemitic” nature is the main focus regarding Mecha-Hitler, though not that AI is reportedly being used to assist in plausible genocide or ethic cleaning in Gaza at the hands of Israel, which is supported by the U.S.?

Free speech is an inalienable right—which includes expression that one deems offensive. I support such speech. However, I denounce legitimate acts of terrorism (the use of violence against non-combatants to achieve political or ideological aims). How about you?

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

References:

Banerjee, S. (2025, July 9). What does ‘MechaHitler’ mean? Grok’s posts on Nazi Holocaust sparks outrage, X responds. Hindustan Times. Retrieved from https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/what-does-mechahitler-mean-groks-posts-on-nazi-holocaust-sparks-outrage-x-responds-101752019861958.html

Goggin, B. and Horvath, B. (2025, July 8). Elon Musk’s AI chatbot churns out antisemitic posts days after update. NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/elon-musk-grok-antisemitic-posts-x-rcna217634

Hollings, D. (2024, July 18). A principled stance on free speech. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/a-principled-stance-on-free-speech

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Hollings, D. (2025, May 8). Lavender-colored discrimination. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/lavender-colored-discrimination

Hollings, D. (2023, September 19). Life coaching. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-coaching

Hollings, D. (2024, March 4). Mental, emotional, and behavioral health. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/mental-emotional-and-behavioral-health

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Hollings, D. (2024, May 5). Psychotherapist. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychotherapist

Hollings, D. (2022, November 1). Self-disturbance. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-disturbance

Hollings, D. (2025, February 28). To try is my goal. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/to-try-is-my-goal

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Human Rights Watch. (2024, September 10). Questions and answers: Israeli military’s use of digital tools in Gaza. Retrieved from https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/09/10/questions-and-answers-israeli-militarys-use-digital-tools-gaza

Paulsteen_theworks. (2025, July 9). Elon Musk’s AI Grok derailed over night over on Twitter after Elon tried to make the algorithm less ”woke”. Grok started spreading anti-semitism, white suprematism, and called itself Mecha-Hitler. This is a picture made by Grok of how it saw itself. Grok has since been shut down and updated. [Thread; image]. Threads. Retrieved from https://www.threads.com/@paulsteen_theworks/post/DL37Q7QCUXb

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Wikipedia. (n.d.). Wolfenstein 3D. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolfenstein_3D