Did Elon Musk’s Grok mistranslate PM Modi’s Maldives post?

How reliable is Grok, X's AI assistant? Not much when it comes to translations. It sparked controversy after a faulty translation of  Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reply to Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu’s Republic Day greetings turned a routine diplomatic exchange between the two leaders into a politically charged statement.

Social media users flagged the Grok’s mistranslation at a time when India–Maldives ties have shown signs of improvement after recent periods of strain. However, Grok later updated the translation of the PM's post after the mistake was pointed out.

So, what did Modi actually write about the Maldives? And how Grok got it all wrong?

Modi's message to Muizzu

On Monday (January 26), Maldivian President Muizzu extended warm greetings to President Murmu and PM Modi on X: "Warmest greetings and best wishes to President Smt Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister HE Shri Narendra Modi, the government and the friendly people of India as they celebrate their 77th Republic Day."

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"This day strongly signifies the commitment of the people of India to uphold the principles of freedom, democracy and good governance. The Maldives wishes to continue our work together to strengthen our excellent ties that have immensely benefited the welfare of the people of both countries," he added.

Responding to Muizzu, the PM posted a message originally written in Dhivehi and meant to thank Muizzu for Republic Day wishes.

"Thank you, President Muizzu. With respect, I accept the warm congratulations and good wishes extended on the occasion of India's 77th Republic Day. We will continue to work together for the benefit of the people of both countries. I hope that the days ahead will be prosperous and happy for all Maldivian citizens."

"I wish all Maldivian citizens a future filled with happy and prosperous days ahead," he said.

It was a standard diplomatic exchange between the two leaders.

Grok AI's mistranslation of PM's post

However, Grok’s translation was completely different in both meaning and tone.

When X users clicked on PM's post, a translation by Grok was this: "Sukuriyya, Raayithun Majlis. India's 77th Independence Day celebrations were held in the Maldives, and the Maldivian government participated in the event. This Sukuriya government has also been involved in the anti-India campaigns of the people. Even in the two anti-India campaigns, they have been at the forefront of the protests."

Grok also confused India’s Republic Day with Independence Day, further muddying the issue.

Screenshots of Grok's translation quickly began circulating on social media, prompting concerns about misinformation and its potential impact on public perception. A user, Shubhangi Sharma, said, "What X's translation said versus what was really said by Prime Minister Modi to the Maldivian President. Why so horribly unreliable?"

India-Maldives reset after strained ties

In late 2023 and early 2024, the India-Maldives relations hit a historic low after President Muizzu swept to power in September 2023 on the back of an “India Out” campaign. His party had strongly criticised India’s military presence in the Maldives.

In January 2024, social media posts by Maldives ministers, days after Modi visited the Lakshadweep, triggered a row. While PM's move was seen as promoting tourism on the island, Maldivian ministers posted a derogatory tweet against Modi, accusing him of targeting the Maldives.

Following significant pressure, the Muizzu government suspended its minister and said the comments were the views of the individuals and not those of the Maldivian government. However, the ties are not back on track.

The PM visited the Maldives in July last year at the invitation of President Muizzu to attend the nation's 60th Independence Day celebrations in its capital, Male. During Modi's visit, discussions were also held on climate change, renewable energy and trade. PM's visit marked a pivotal moment in India-Maldives relations.

With inputs from agencies