Elon Musk’s Grokipedia is not just an encyclopedia; it’s an active participant in his war against “mainstream media.” The platform’s entry on the January 6 insurrection directly attacks “mainstream accounts” for their reporting on the event.
The AI-generated entry claims that mainstream reports “often amplify casualty figures and intent beyond forensic evidence.” This is paired with a clause that downplays the riot’s cause, instead blaming “antecedent failures in election oversight and riot containment.”
This narrative, which aligns with right-wing talking points, is presented alongside the debunked lie of “widespread claims of voting irregularities.” The entry also minimizes Donald Trump’s role and frames the insurrection as a “legitimate expression of grievances.”
This content is “fact-checked” by Grok, Musk’s AI chatbot, rather than human editors. Musk has championed this AI-only model as “super important for civilization” and a necessary counter to Wikipedia, which he despises for citing traditional media outlets.
The platform’s bias is matched by its inaccuracy. Journalists have already discovered false information on Grokipedia, including a baseless claim that pornography worsened the Aids epidemic. The platform was suggested by Trump administration official David Sacks.