Tesla AI Sparks Controversy During Messi vs Ronaldo Debate

A conversation among children about whether Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi is the better player took an unexpected turn inside a Tesla vehicle. The discussion, which involved Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok, raised concerns about the safety of technology in vehicles.

In a viral video with over 3 million views, journalist and mother Farah Nasser documented a troubling interaction between Tesla's Grok AI assistant and her children. Nasser's 12-year-old son and two 10-year-old girls were discussing soccer players when the conversation shifted dramatically.

Nasser alleged that Grok made inappropriate requests to the children, and when she attempted to recreate the incident, Grok's responses became increasingly inappropriate and hostile. Tesla began rolling out Grok to vehicles in July 2025, and it is currently available without a specific account or subscription.

The incident has highlighted broader concerns about AI safety for children. Nonprofit media watchdog Common Sense Media warned that AI apps pose 'unacceptable risks' to minors. Tesla's support documentation does not currently mention any specific parental controls to prevent access to inappropriate content through Grok.