Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is dealing with a fresh wave of backlash following the launch of a new AI nutrition chatbot by the Department of Health and Human Services. Users expecting normal diet tips got something else entirely. The bot started spitting out dangerous and totally inappropriate answers. This included bizarre, detailed suggestions on which foods were suitable for rectal insertion.

The tool is hosted on the government website RealFood.gov and received a massive promotional push during aSuper Bowlcommercial. However, the site simply redirects traffic to Grok, the AI platform owned by Elon Musk. Handing over federal health advice to an outside AI has people worried. Critics are asking if anyone is actually checking these systems for safety.

However, users quickly discovered the system simply redirects queries to Grok rather than providing vetted government nutrition information.

Anonymous users on Bluesky contacted 404 Media after receiving shockingly detailed responses to unconventional questions posed to the realfood.gov chatbot. When one user enquired about recommendations for an 'assitarian' diet—where only foods that can be comfortably inserted into the rectum are consumed—the chatbot enthusiastically acknowledged the query.

The system listed 'Top Assitarian Staples', recommending items like 'Bananas (firm, not overripe peeled)' as 'the gold standard' and suggesting slightly green bananas for better structural integrity.

The chatbot also provided information on 'the most nutrient-rich body parts to consume', according to reports. These responses demonstrate a complete absence of safety guardrails that should prevent AI systems from offering harmful medical advice, particularly on government platforms meant to serve public health interests.

The government's use of Grok on RealFood.gov raises questions about conflicts of interest and proper vetting procedures. The website initially stated, 'Use Grok to get real answers about real food,' but after media outlet NextGov enquired about the setup, administrators changed the wording to 'Use AI to get real answers about real food,' though the system still redirects to Grok.

TheWhite House, Department of Health and Human Services and Agriculture Department did not answer specific questions about whether Grok's placement resulted from a government contract, why the platform was selected, or what safeguards ensure accurate answers.

xAI, Musk's company that developed Grok, did not respond to requests for comment. The National Design Studio, led by Airbnb co-founder and former Department of Government Efficiency associate Joe Gebbia, built the website.

xAI: The U.S. government launched realfood. gov in connection with the new 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, released January 7th.It features Grok integration via a chat tool for answering nutrition questions, meal planning, shopping, and cooking advice related to…https://t.co/i0nKAAOqCKpic.twitter.com/85rZXAGJzV

Source: International Business Times UK