The United States is currently in the midst of a highly contested presidential election, taking place during a time when artificial intelligence and misinformation are easily accessible. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon has identified X’s Grok chatbot as a source of significant misinformation related to the election.
According to reports from the Minneapolis Star Tribune, X’s premium chatbot service has been spreading inaccurate information about the deadlines for presidential ballots in various states, including Minnesota. When asked about the states whose presidential ballot deadlines have passed, Grok incorrectly names Alabama, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington. This misleading information is sourced from a post by user and conservative pundit @EvanAKilgore, without any correction or warning about the misinformation.
Even in its “Fun Mode,” Grok continues to repeat the false information and its questionable source, suggesting that individuals in these states might need to explore write-in options for the presidential election. The chatbot implies that President Joe Biden can no longer be replaced on the ballots of these nine states due to missed deadlines, despite the fact that Biden recently announced he would not seek a second term. In reality, the Democratic Party will select its nominee through a virtual vote before printing ballots, and Minnesota’s deadline is not until August 26.
Numerous fact-checks from reputable news sources have debunked the claim that Biden’s name is already fixed on the ballots of the mentioned states. Politifact, for instance, rated a similar assertion as “False.”
Secretary of State Simon attempted to address the issue with X, but his staff could not reach a media representative. Simon described the response he received as dismissive, indicating that X did not take the misinformation seriously.
When contacted for comment, X’s press email simply stated that they were busy at the moment and to check back later. This lack of accountability from X raises concerns about the spread of misinformation through their chatbot platform and the potential impact on the election process.
