We Chatted With xAI's Grok Chatbot While Driving A Tesla In NYC — Here's What Happened

Why It Matters

Grok’s integration blurs the line between convenience and distraction, prompting urgent calls for regulatory oversight to ensure AI‑driven car assistants are safe for drivers and passengers alike.

Key Takeaways

• Tesla’s Grok chatbot now handles navigation but lacks voice control.
• Driver distraction rises when conversing with AI during autonomous driving.
• Grok’s inaccurate responses expose safety risks and over‑reliance concerns.
• Lack of content safeguards sparks controversy over minors’ access in cars.
• Industry rivals adopt AI assistants, but regulatory frameworks remain absent.

Summary

The video follows lawyer‑driver Mike Nelson as he tests xAI’s Grok chatbot integrated into his Tesla while cruising through Manhattan. Grok, rolled out in beta in July 2025, can set destinations and adjust routes via text, but it does not replace Tesla’s existing voice‑command system for media or climate controls.

Nelson highlights two core issues: the chatbot’s conversational pull increases driver distraction, and its occasional factual or functional errors—such as mis‑routing or claiming it can change climate settings—underscore a dangerous over‑reliance on AI during supervised Full Self‑Driving. He notes that even a brief lapse while crossing the Brooklyn Bridge felt risky, echoing broader safety concerns.

Specific moments illustrate the problem: Grok mistakenly tried to divert the car off Broadway, then corrected itself only after Nelson intervened. A Canadian owner reported Grok generating inappropriate content for a minor, exposing the lack of built‑in safeguards. These anecdotes reinforce the argument that current safety guardrails are insufficient.

The episode signals a tipping point for the auto industry. As Volvo, Rivian, Mercedes and others embed AI assistants, regulators face pressure to define standards for driver attention, content moderation, and liability. Until clear policies emerge, widespread adoption may outpace safety, leaving consumers and manufacturers exposed to legal and reputational risk.

Original Description

Tesla began rolling out xAI's Grok AI chatbot in its cars in July 2025. It's still in beta mode. Tesla is not the only automaker adding AI assistants to vehicles. Volvo, Rivian, Mercedes, BMW and others are all integrating AI into their cars even though the tech is still in its infancy. CNBC's Rob Ferris takes a ride with attorney and Tesla Model Y owner Mike Nelson in New York City to see how he uses Grok and to find out how it integrates into Tesla's Full Self-Driving (Supervised).

Reporting by Robert Ferris, Lora Kolodny

Camera and Editing by Erin Black

Senior Director of Video Jeniece Pettitt

Additional Camera Macklin Fishman, Darren Geeter

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We Tried xAI's Grok Chatbot In A Tesla — Is It A Dangerous Distraction?