What's happened
Elon Musk's platform X has updated its AI assistant Grok to direct users to Vote.gov for accurate election information. This change follows complaints from five state secretaries regarding misinformation about ballot deadlines after President Biden's withdrawal from the presidential race.
What's behind the headline?
Impact of the Update
- Misinformation Mitigation: Directing users to Vote.gov aims to reduce the spread of false information regarding elections.
- Trustworthy Resources: Both Vote.gov and CanIVote.org are recognized as reliable sources for voters, enhancing the credibility of information provided.
- User Awareness: This change may increase user awareness about the importance of verifying election-related information.
Future Implications
- Increased Scrutiny: X may face heightened scrutiny regarding its AI's accuracy and reliability in the lead-up to the elections.
- Potential for Further Changes: If misinformation persists, further adjustments to Grok's functionality may be necessary.
- Broader AI Accountability: This incident highlights the need for accountability in AI systems, particularly those influencing public opinion and electoral processes.
What the papers say
According to Jon Brodkin from Ars Technica, the update to Grok was a direct response to concerns raised by state officials about misinformation. He notes that the chatbot had previously misinformed users about ballot deadlines, stating, "the false Grok post said that the 'ballot deadline has passed for several states for the 2024 election.'" Business Insider UK echoed these concerns, highlighting that Grok incorrectly claimed Kamala Harris was ineligible in nine states. They reported that the secretaries of state requested Grok to direct users to CanIVote.org, but X opted for Vote.gov instead. Al Jazeera emphasized the importance of this change, stating that misinformation from Grok had reached millions, and the update is a step towards ensuring users access accurate election information.
How we got here
The update comes after five secretaries of state expressed concerns over Grok spreading false information about election deadlines. This misinformation was particularly problematic following President Biden's exit from the race, prompting the officials to request immediate changes.
Go deeper
- What specific misinformation did Grok spread?
- How will this change affect voters?
- What are the implications for AI in elections?
Common question
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What Mistake Did X's Grok Make About Ballot Deadlines?
Elon Musk's platform X has faced scrutiny after its AI assistant Grok provided incorrect information regarding ballot deadlines for the upcoming election. This has raised concerns among voters and state officials alike. Here’s what you need to know about the misinformation, its implications, and how to ensure you have accurate voting information.
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Elon Reeve Musk FRS is an engineer, industrial designer, technology entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is the founder, CEO, CTO and chief designer of SpaceX; early investor, CEO and product architect of Tesla, Inc.; founder of The Boring Company; co-foun
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Grok is a conversational generative artificial intelligence chatbot developed by xAI, based on a large language model. It was developed as an initiative by Elon Musk as a direct response to the rise of OpenAI's ChatGPT which Musk co-founded.
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Twitter was an American social networking service that was rebranded as X in 2023. Established in March 2006, it grew to become one of the world's largest social media websites and the fifth-most visited website in the world. It was launched in July 2006.
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The United States of America, commonly known as the United States or America, is a country mostly located in central North America, between Canada and Mexico.