Elon Musk has never been shy about his opinions, but now his own AI might be turning against him. X’s AI chatbot, Grok, recently made headlines when it identified Musk as the biggest spreader of misinformation on his own platform.
The response came after AI expert Linus Ekenstam asked Grok who was responsible for the most disinformation on X. The answer—Elon Musk—quickly gained attention, raising questions about the chatbot’s programming and whether it was accurately reflecting reality or simply pulling from biased sources.
Mysterious Changes to Grok’s Programming
Shortly after the incident, users noticed that Grok’s system instructions had been modified to prevent it from linking Musk or Donald Trump to misinformation. According to xAI’s head of engineering, Igor Babuschkin, the change was made by a new employee who acted without authorization.
When the modification was discovered, the firm quickly reversed it. However, the episode has called into doubt Musk’s control over the narratives supported by his AI, as well as the transparency of the process.
X and the Spread of Pro-Russian Content
This isn’t the first time Musk’s handling of information on X has raised concerns. A study by the European Commission found that since Musk took over, Russian disinformation has actually been reaching more people on X than before the war in Ukraine.
Part of the issue stems from Musk’s decision to remove labels that previously identified state-affiliated media accounts. Without these warnings, Russian propaganda outlets have gained more visibility and engagement on the platform, fueling criticism that X is allowing misinformation to spread unchecked.
What Does This Mean for the Future of X and AI?
The Grok controversy illustrates a rising discussion about AI-generated content and the kind of control that industry leaders like Musk have over the narratives that form it.