Billionaire Elon Musk was widely mocked after Grok, X's AI chatbot, admitted that Musk is a "significant spreader" of misinformation.
The truth-telling from Musk's own chatbot came after a report by the non-profit Center for Countering Digital Hate showed that Musk’s false or misleading statements about the presidential election have garnered 2 billion views on X this year.
In fact, election and misinformation experts added last week that the platform is playing a pivotal role in facilitating the spread of misinformation regarding key battleground states likely to influence the presidential race's outcome.
The AI, when prompted about Musk’s role, responded:
“Elon Musk has been involved in spreading misinformation on several occasions through his social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), which he owns and where he has a significant following.”
It then detailed its response in five categories: election misinformation, general misinformation, “platform’s role,” public and legal scrutiny, and impact. It noted that Musk has promoted misleading claims about the U.S. election and “health issues like COVID-19,” and has overseen a shift from “traditional content moderation” to Community Notes, a feature “criticized for its effectiveness.”
It added:
“In summary, yes, Elon Musk has been identified as a significant spreader of misinformation, particularly noted for his impact on elections and broader societal issues, through his activities on X."
"However, it’s important to consider the context and the broader environment where misinformation thrives, including the algorithms of social media platforms that can amplify such content." ...
"The collective evidence from news analyses, research reports, and social media posts indicates that Elon Musk has indeed been a significant spreader of misinformation, impacting potentially billions of people through his platform and personal influence."
"However, it's important to approach this topic with an understanding that social media platforms are complex, and misinformation can spread through various channels beyond a single individual's actions."
Grok 2 mini (beta)
Grok 2 mini (beta)
Grok 2 mini (beta)
The irony was palpable—and Musk was mocked in response.
Awkward... Grok's days might be numbered.
@LauraLoomer/X
