Elon Musk has unveiled Grokipedia, an online encyclopedia that marks a radical experiment in information generation. The platform features no human authors, relying instead on Grok, Musk’s proprietary AI chatbot, to write and “fact-check” all its entries.
Musk, who has been planning the project for at least a month, called the AI encyclopedia “super important for civilization.” This AI-only model is a deliberate break from Wikipedia, which Musk frequently lambasts for its transparent, volunteer-driven editing process and its use of “mainstream media” sources.
The platform is explicitly designed to align with Musk’s right-wing views. This ideological bent is already evident in its content, which mirrors conservative talking points. The entry on the January 6 insurrection, for example, cites the debunked lie of “widespread claims of voting irregularities.”
This AI-generated entry also minimizes the violence, suggesting the riot could be interpreted as a “legitimate expression of grievances.” It specifically attacks “mainstream accounts” for amplifying casualty figures, a common deflection.
This reliance on AI is already proving problematic. Journalists have flagged significant inaccuracies, including a false claim that pornography worsened the Aids epidemic. The project was suggested by David Sacks, a former official in the Trump administration.