The open-source platform challenges Wikipedia’s editorial model, giving AI the final say in content moderation
Tech billionaire Elon Musk has officially launched Grokipedia, an AI-powered online encyclopedia that positions itself as a “truth-focused” alternative to Wikipedia. The launch, announced on Monday via X (formerly Twitter), marks Musk’s latest move to reshape how information is curated and verified online.
Described as “fully open source”, Grokipedia allows anyone to use, modify, or contribute content at no cost, according to Musk. “We will never be perfect, but we shall nonetheless strive toward the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,” he wrote in one of several posts following the release.
AI moderation replaces human editors
Unlike Wikipedia’s community-driven editorial process, Grokipedia relies on X’s Grok AI to write, review, and approve entries. Users can request edits, but AI has the final decision on whether changes are accepted. Musk revealed that Grok initially generated around one million articles, using significant computing resources.
“You can ask Grok to add, modify, or delete articles. It will either do so or explain why it won’t,” Musk said, emphasizing that the system is designed to minimize editorial bias and maintain consistency in tone and accuracy.
After an initial delay to “purge propaganda,” the site launched successfully, temporarily crashing due to heavy traffic. As of Monday night, Grokipedia claimed to host over 885,000 articles, covering a broad range of topics.
A philosophical clash with Wikipedia
Musk has long criticized Wikipedia for what he views as political and cultural bias, arguing that its volunteer editor model promotes left-leaning perspectives. Grokipedia’s own entry on Wikipedia highlights academic studies suggesting deviations from neutrality in certain articles.
In contrast, Wikipedia’s entry on Grokipedia notes concerns from critics that Musk’s new platform may lean toward right-wing narratives or reflect Musk’s personal viewpoints.
While both platforms claim to promote open knowledge, Grokipedia’s launch introduces a new paradigm — one where artificial intelligence, not humans, determines the final version of truth.
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