Elon Musk, the well-known CEO of Tesla and recent owner of Twitter (now called X), has become a prominent player in the AI industry despite his frequent criticisms of it. X has launched a generative AI product called Grok, which is integrated into the web and mobile versions of the social network.
This AI is trained on billions of tweets through an automatic opt-in system for all users, making use of the vast amounts of text available on the platform.
The decision to use the continuous stream of conversations from X’s active user base was a compelling opportunity for Musk’s company xAI. Grok now automatically scans users’ posts, interactions, inputs, and search results. This data collection process is integral to developing the AI’s capabilities, similar to how other large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT operate, requiring extensive text data for training and updates.
Elon Musk’s X Launches Grok AI, Sparking Privacy and Accuracy Concerns
Currently, X employs Grok as a chatbot for premium users and to generate summaries of breaking news stories, although these applications have faced criticism. Users have found Grok’s responses to be overly casual and irreverent, raising concerns about its accuracy and vulnerability to misinformation. The reliance on constantly updated data from X heightens the risk of Grok spreading false information.
All users of X are automatically included in the data scanning process by Grok, regardless of whether they pay for premium features. While there is an option to opt out, the process is not user-friendly and requires navigating through X’s web settings. To opt out, users must go to the Settings menu, select Privacy & Safety, then Grok, and uncheck the option that allows their posts to be used for AI training.
The term “grok” comes from Robert Heinlein’s 1961 novel “Stranger in a Strange Land,” and means to deeply understand something. Heinlein, known for his speculative fiction and libertarian themes, was an advocate for privacy.
The irony is evident: Musk, a fan of Heinlein, has created a tool that scans and uses user data without explicit consent. This raises questions about how Heinlein would perceive the current state of privacy on social networks and the ethical implications of such data practices.
