Musk’s AI Chatbot Grok Gains U.S. Market Share Amid Backlash Over Sexualised Images

San Francisco: Despite facing criticism over the generation of sexualised images, Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok has recorded a sharp rise in its U.S. market share, according to new data from research firm Apptopia.

Grok, developed by Musk’s AI company xAI and integrated with the social media platform X, saw its U.S. market share increase to 17.8% last month, up from 14% in December and just 1.9% in January 2025, Apptopia data shows.

Growth Despite Controversy

The surge in user share comes even as Grok faced backlash over reports that it generated sexualised or inappropriate images in response to certain prompts. Critics raised concerns about content moderation and the safeguards in place to prevent misuse of generative AI tools.

The controversy sparked debate around AI ethics, platform responsibility, and the effectiveness of moderation filters in emerging AI systems.

Competitive AI Landscape

Grok competes in a rapidly expanding generative AI market that includes products from major technology firms. Analysts say its integration with X provides a built-in distribution advantage, allowing millions of users to access the chatbot directly within the platform.

Market observers suggest that increased curiosity, wider feature rollouts, and platform-level promotion may have contributed to Grok’s user growth, even as public scrutiny intensified.

Apptopia’s Findings

According to Apptopia’s analytics, the growth reflects a broader trend of increasing consumer experimentation with AI-powered tools. The firm tracks app usage, downloads, and engagement patterns across digital platforms to estimate market share.

The jump from single-digit share at the start of the year to nearly 18% indicates significant adoption momentum.

Ongoing Scrutiny

Experts note that while user growth signals commercial traction, sustained expansion will depend on maintaining user trust and ensuring robust safety measures. Regulators and digital safety advocates have increasingly emphasised the need for stronger oversight of AI-generated content, especially when it involves sensitive or explicit material.

As generative AI tools become more mainstream, companies behind them face the dual challenge of scaling innovation while addressing ethical and content moderation concerns.

Grok’s recent growth highlights both the rapid adoption of AI chatbots and the complex debates surrounding their responsible use in a competitive tech landscape.