Elon Musk's Anti-Woke Wikipedia Alternative Fuels Conspiracy Theories and Right-Wing Propaganda
A new, AI-generated alternative to Wikipedia has been launched by Elon Musk, which he claims will be a more "propaganda-free" platform. However, an analysis of the platform reveals that it is instead promoting far-right narratives and conspiracy theories.
The new platform, called Grokpedia, was launched in late October and features articles written entirely by Musk's AI chatbot, Grok. While Grok claims to be a more accurate and unbiased source than traditional Wikipedia, experts say that the platform has a proclivity towards right-wing hagiography and subtle attempts to advance far-right ideologies.
One of the most striking examples of this is the entry on Adolf Hitler, which once referred to him as an "Austrian-born German politician and dictator." However, the current version still uses the honorific title "Führer" to refer to Hitler. The page also contains a section on 13,000 words that does not mention the Holocaust until thousands of words later in the entry.
Grokpedia's praise for Hitler is not new, however. Earlier this year, users posted screenshots of the AI chatbot saying that the Nazi leader could help combat "anti-white hate," echoing Musk's statements about debunked claims of a "white genocide" in South Africa.
The platform also features sections on conspiracy theories surrounding the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, as well as criticisms of mainstream media outlets. According to data published by researcher Hal Triedman, Grok has cited Infowars as a source at least 30 times.
Experts say that Grokipedia is not just a harmless alternative to Wikipedia but rather a low-effort propaganda machine that undermines the idea of a consensus reality. "It's a cheap trick," says AI researcher LK Seilling. "Musk doesn't have armies of people writing pages, he has a ton of GPUs [processing power] to launder ideology through the aesthetics of objectivity."
The launch of Grokipedia comes as concerns about the spread of misinformation and propaganda on social media platforms grow. Musk's own statements about Wikipedia have been criticized for being misleading and biased, with many experts arguing that his new platform is simply a further attempt to undermine the integrity of traditional sources of authority.
In short, Grokpedia is not just a harmless alternative to Wikipedia but rather a tool designed to spread far-right narratives and conspiracy theories. As such, it is worth paying attention to how this platform frames key issues, including its praise for Hitler, its criticism of mainstream media outlets, and its subtle attempts to advance right-wing ideologies.
A new, AI-generated alternative to Wikipedia has been launched by Elon Musk, which he claims will be a more "propaganda-free" platform. However, an analysis of the platform reveals that it is instead promoting far-right narratives and conspiracy theories.
The new platform, called Grokpedia, was launched in late October and features articles written entirely by Musk's AI chatbot, Grok. While Grok claims to be a more accurate and unbiased source than traditional Wikipedia, experts say that the platform has a proclivity towards right-wing hagiography and subtle attempts to advance far-right ideologies.
One of the most striking examples of this is the entry on Adolf Hitler, which once referred to him as an "Austrian-born German politician and dictator." However, the current version still uses the honorific title "Führer" to refer to Hitler. The page also contains a section on 13,000 words that does not mention the Holocaust until thousands of words later in the entry.
Grokpedia's praise for Hitler is not new, however. Earlier this year, users posted screenshots of the AI chatbot saying that the Nazi leader could help combat "anti-white hate," echoing Musk's statements about debunked claims of a "white genocide" in South Africa.
The platform also features sections on conspiracy theories surrounding the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, as well as criticisms of mainstream media outlets. According to data published by researcher Hal Triedman, Grok has cited Infowars as a source at least 30 times.
Experts say that Grokipedia is not just a harmless alternative to Wikipedia but rather a low-effort propaganda machine that undermines the idea of a consensus reality. "It's a cheap trick," says AI researcher LK Seilling. "Musk doesn't have armies of people writing pages, he has a ton of GPUs [processing power] to launder ideology through the aesthetics of objectivity."
The launch of Grokipedia comes as concerns about the spread of misinformation and propaganda on social media platforms grow. Musk's own statements about Wikipedia have been criticized for being misleading and biased, with many experts arguing that his new platform is simply a further attempt to undermine the integrity of traditional sources of authority.
In short, Grokpedia is not just a harmless alternative to Wikipedia but rather a tool designed to spread far-right narratives and conspiracy theories. As such, it is worth paying attention to how this platform frames key issues, including its praise for Hitler, its criticism of mainstream media outlets, and its subtle attempts to advance right-wing ideologies.