DIAGNOSIS That's the sound of the auger—the spiral blade that pushes the ice—struggling. It's usually because a small piece of ice or a mineral scale chunk is jammed in the mechanism.
FIX 1) Turn the machine off and unplug it. 2) Open the front door and remove any loose ice from the bin. 3) Look inside the ice chute. You might see the offending piece stuck near the top. Using a plastic utensil (like a chopstick or the handle of a long spoon), very gently try to dislodge it. Don't force anything. 4) Plug the machine back in and turn it on. Often, running a clean cycle (without any cleaner) will flush the system and clear the jam as the machine circulates water.
IF THAT DIDN'T WORK The noise might be coming from the compressor or fan, which is a more serious internal issue. Listen closely. If the grinding is a constant, rhythmic sound from the back of the unit (not intermittent from the front), it's likely a hardware failure and you'll need to contact GE support.
HEADS UP Hard, mineral-heavy water can cause scale flakes that lead to these jams. Regular cleaning with the descaling solution is key to preventing this. Never, ever use metal tools to try and clear a jam—you'll scratch the interior and make future problems worse.