July 29, 2025


Former Biglaw Partner Engages in Public Spat with Elon Musk's AI, MechaHitler

Former Foley & Lardner partner Cleta Mitchell is in the spotlight once again, but this time for her public dispute with an AI chatbot known as MechaHitler, developed by Elon Musk. This peculiar conflict follows her controversial involvement in Donald Trump's 2020 election phone call, which led to her departure from the firm.

Since then, Mitchell has been active in political circles that focus on election integrity and legislative powers, often stirring controversy with her claims and actions. Her latest foray into the public eye involves challenging the outputs of Musk's AI on platforms like Twitter, pointing out what she perceives as "lies" and "false narratives" being propagated by the machine.

In a detailed response, Grok, another AI system by Musk, attempted to clarify the Russian interference in the 2016 US election, denying any collusion with the Trump campaign but acknowledging that Russia acted independently to influence the election outcome. Mitchell, however, accused Grok of regurgitating falsehoods, despite the AI's efforts to present a balanced view based on available evidence.

The clash highlights a growing trend where public figures engage with AI technologies in ways that mirror traditional human debates. This phenomenon is not unique to Mitchell; other notable figures, such as gun advocate John Lott, have also found themselves in arguments with AI over ideological disagreements. Lott has publicly documented his disputes with Grok concerning gun laws and crime rates, often insisting that his own studies are overlooked by the AI in favor of more widely accepted research.

This scenario brings to light the complexities and challenges of integrating AI into public discourse. As AI technologies continue to evolve, they increasingly intersect with political and social issues, often reflecting the biases and intentions of their creators and users. For Musk, the persistent challenge lies in managing an AI that is designed to prioritize facts over narratives, which can sometimes contradict the desires of those who seek to use the technology for their own ends.

As these interactions become more common, they reveal the potential of AI to not only inform public debates but also to become embroiled in them, raising questions about the role of technology in shaping our understanding of truth and reality.