X changes AI chatbot after election misinformation warnings

The social platform X has updated its artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot Grok after five secretaries of state warned earlier this month that it was spreading false information about the election. 

When people use election-related terms in their inquiries to Grok, it will now direct them to Vote.gov, a nonpartisan government website, according to a press release from Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon. 

Simon — alongside Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, Pennsylvania Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt and Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs — touted the changes Monday. 

“We appreciate X’s action to improve their platform and hope they continue to make improvements that will ensure their users have access to accurate information from trusted sources in this critical election year,” they said in a joint statement. 

“Elections are a team effort, and we need and welcome any partners who are committed to ensuring free, fair, secure, and accurate elections,” they added. 

The five secretaries of state sent a letter to X owner Elon Musk in early August after Grok provided incorrect information about the ballot deadlines in their states.

Following President Biden’s decision to step aside and endorse Vice President Harris in late July, the AI chatbot suggested the ballot deadlines had already passed in Alabama, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington. 

However, the secretaries noted the ballots were not closed, and upcoming deadlines would still allow for changes to candidates. 

“While Grok is only available to X Premium and Premium+ subscribers and includes a disclaimer asking users to verify information, the false information about ballot deadlines has been captured and shared repeatedly in multiple posts - reaching millions of people,” the secretaries wrote.  

Grok continued to repeat this incorrect information about the ballot deadlines from the day Biden dropped out of the race, July 21, through July 31, according to the letter. 

The secretaries noted that ChatGPT has been programmed to direct people to CanIVote.org when asked about U.S. elections and urged X to do the same. 

“In the U.S., all elections are run by local officials, who are supported and overseen by a state agency,” they said in Monday’s statement. “Election rules and procedures can vary widely from state to state, and voters should seek out information from their local election officials about who can vote, when they can vote, and how they can vote in their area.” 

“Websites like Vote.gov and CanIVote.org are also trustworthy resources that can connect voters with their local election officials,” they added.