Elon Musk, known for disrupting industries from space travel to electric vehicles, is now turning his attention to the world of knowledge. On Monday, Musk unveiled Grokipedia, a new AI-powered encyclopedia developed by his company xAI — described as “free from propaganda.”
The platform launched with over 800,000 AI-generated articles, but the site struggled with accessibility issues due to overwhelming traffic. According to The New York Times, Grokipedia offers a minimalist design and allows users to search topics directly. Early entries include profiles of controversial figures like Donald Trump and OpenAI.
Critics, however, see the move as part of Musk’s broader ambition to control narratives. Researcher Ryan McGrady of the University of Massachusetts Amherst commented, “The desire to control information is as old as knowledge itself.” Some of Grokipedia’s entries reportedly mirror Musk’s personal views, especially on sensitive social issues such as transgender healthcare.
Musk has long accused Wikipedia of political bias, calling it “a liberal propaganda tool.” His supporters, including David Sacks, argue that Grokipedia could “balance the digital information landscape.” But Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales remains skeptical, emphasizing that “AI cannot replace human judgment when it comes to truth and accuracy.”
As the debate intensifies, one question looms large: Is Grokipedia a revolution in free knowledge—or Musk’s latest instrument of influence?