Elon Musk’s social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), has quietly begun using users’ tweets and interactions to train its AI chatbot, Grok. This change, implemented without prior notice or user consent, has raised concerns about privacy and data protection.
How It Works
- Default Setting: X has activated a default setting that allows the company to use your data for training Grok, its competitor to ChatGPT.
- User Alert: A concerned user highlighted this change on social media, noting that while the setting can be disabled via the web, it is not possible through the mobile app.
Privacy Concerns
- Lack of Notification: X did not inform users of this change, leading to criticism over transparency and user consent.
- European Scrutiny: Privacy regulators in Europe are examining whether this practice breaches stricter data protection regulations that give users more control over their personal information.
Background on Grok
- Launch: Grok was released by Musk in November and is marketed as a more unfiltered and less “woke” alternative to other AI tools from companies like OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft.
- AI Bias: Musk has criticized existing chatbots for what he sees as liberal bias, particularly on issues related to diversity and social justice.
What You Can Do
To opt out of having your data used for training Grok:
- On the Web:
- Log in to your X account.
- Navigate to the settings menu.
- Locate and disable the setting related to data usage for training Grok.
- Mobile App:
- Currently, there is no option to disable this setting via the mobile app
