New Delhi: A new controversy has surfaced on social media after Grok, the artificial intelligence assistant integrated into X, inaccurately translated a diplomatic message posted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, transforming a routine exchange of goodwill into a politically charged statement involving the Maldives.
The issue drew attention when users observed that Grok’s so called translation of the Prime Minister’s message differed sharply from the original text. The post, written in Dhivehi, was intended to thank Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu for extending Republic Day greetings to India. Instead, the AI generated version introduced references that were neither factual nor reflective of the original intent.
In the actual message, Prime Minister Modi conveyed warm wishes on the occasion of India’s 77th Republic Day. He expressed hope for continued cooperation between India and the Maldives and wished the Maldivian people prosperity and happiness. The tone was formal, cordial, and consistent with standard diplomatic communication between two neighboring countries.
However, the AI generated output altered both tone and substance. It incorrectly referred to Independence Day instead of Republic Day and went further by inserting claims that the Maldivian government had participated in anti India campaigns and protests. These assertions were not present in the original message and introduced a sensitive political angle that had no basis in fact.
Given the recent strains witnessed in India Maldives relations, the mistranslation raised immediate concerns. Screenshots of the AI output circulated widely, prompting fears that such errors could mislead readers into believing that the words reflected the Prime Minister’s views. Several users highlighted that AI generated translations displayed without clear warnings can easily be mistaken for authentic statements.
The episode has reignited debate around the reliability of generative AI, especially when deployed in politically and diplomatically sensitive contexts. It also follows earlier criticism of the same AI tool for producing misleading or controversial content in India.
The incident underscores a broader challenge facing social media platforms and AI developers. While automated tools promise speed and accessibility, inaccuracies in areas such as translation can have consequences that extend beyond technology. In this case, a flawed output carried the risk of diplomatic misunderstanding.
As AI tools become more embedded in public communication, the need for stronger safeguards, clearer disclaimers, and more rigorous accuracy checks has become increasingly evident. In the fast moving world of social media, even a single mistranslation can quickly escalate into a national or international issue.
