Five secretaries of state have sent a letter to Elon Musk, urging him to address an AI chatbot on the social media platform X that has been spreading election misinformation. The top election officials from Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Washington expressed concerns about X's AI chatbot, Grok, disseminating false information regarding state ballot deadlines following President Joe Biden's withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race.
Although Grok is only accessible to subscribers of the premium versions of X, the misinformation it generated was shared across various social media platforms, reaching millions of individuals. The inaccurate ballot deadline details referenced states such as Alabama, Indiana, Ohio, and Texas, with Grok persisting in repeating the false information for 10 days before corrections were made.
The letter emphasized the importance of rectifying the chatbot promptly to ensure voters have access to accurate information during this crucial election year. It suggested directing Grok to redirect users to CanIVote.org, a voting information website managed by the National Association of Secretaries of State, when inquiring about U.S. elections.
Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon highlighted the critical need for voters to receive precise guidance on exercising their voting rights, advising them to consult their state or local election officials for relevant information.
Grok, introduced last year for X premium and premium plus subscribers, was promoted by Musk as a unique AI chatbot capable of addressing unconventional questions rejected by other AI systems. The letter underscored the responsibility of X to ensure that all voters on the platform access accurate information about their constitutional right to vote.
Concerns have been raised about X, formerly Twitter under Musk's ownership since 2022, amplifying hate speech and misinformation, reducing content moderation efforts, eliminating misinformation features, and censoring journalists critical of Musk. Experts caution that these actions could lead to a deterioration of the misinformation landscape ahead of the upcoming November elections.
The Associated Press is supported by various private foundations to enhance its coverage of elections and democracy. The AP retains full responsibility for all content.
