The metropolitan police were required to address the inaccurate claims generated by artificial intelligence on Elon Musk’s X platform. As a result, they released footage from the far-right rally that took place in the city since 2020.
Chatbot Grok claimed to provide answers to users on X about the location and timing of police footage depicting clashes with the crowd.
Despite Grok’s history of providing inaccurate information, it was noted that “the footage appears to show a confrontation between police and protesters over restrictions on September 26, 2020, during an anti-lockdown demonstration at Trafalgar Square in London.”
The response was quickly amplified on X, with Daily Telegraph columnist Allison Pearson tweeting, “This aligns with my suspicions.”
The Met responded to her, clarifying that the footage was captured before 3pm at the junction of Whitehall and Horseguard Avenue.
“It is clearly not Trafalgar Square, as suggested by the AI response you referenced. To eliminate confusion, we provided labeling comparisons to verify the location,” the force added.
This exchange illustrates the challenges police face from social media platforms, occurring on a day when 26 officers sustained injuries amid violence. Elon Musk was present at a rally organized by far-right activists affiliated with Tommy Robinson.
Musk faced criticism for his remarks, which were conveyed to Robinson via live link. The billionaire told the audience, “violence is coming,” asserting, “You will either fight back or perish.”
Liberal Democratic leader Ed Davy stated: “Elon Musk incited violence on our streets yesterday. I hope that politicians from all parties unite in denouncing his deeply dangerous and irresponsible rhetoric.”
When queried by the BBC on Sunday about whether a tech billionaire was trying to provoke violence, Business Secretary Peter Kyle commented:
Grok is a creation of Musk’s AI company Xai and is accessible to users on Musk’s social media platform, X. Users can pose questions on X by tagging “@grok”, prompting the chatbot to respond.
After the newsletter promotion
Previously, Grok mentioned South Africa’s “white genocide” in unrelated discussions.
This idea stems from a far-right conspiracy theory, which has gained traction in mainstream discourse, with figures like Musk and Tucker Carlson often referenced.
Musk is a prominent supporter of Robinson and has significantly contributed to reviving the narrative regarding gangs that groomed and assaulted girls in the UK for years. Last year, Downing Street rebuked Musk for his comments on X, where he posted that “civil wars are inevitable” alongside footage of violent riots in Liverpool.
X was contacted for a statement regarding Grok’s misleading information related to Saturday’s footage.
Quick Guide
Please contact us about this story
show
show
The best public interest journalism relies on firsthand accounts from knowledgeable individuals.
If you have any information to share about this topic, please contact us confidentially via the following methods:
Secure Messaging in the Guardian App
The Guardian app features a tool to submit story tips, with messages encrypted end-to-end and integrated into the regular activities of Guardian mobile applications, ensuring your communications remain private.
If you don’t have the Guardian app, please download it (iOS/Android) and navigate to the menu. Select Secure Messaging.
SecureDrop, Instant Messengers, Email, Telephone and Post
If you can safely use the TOR network without detection, you may send messages and documents to the Guardian via our SecureDrop platform.
Lastly, the guide at theguardian.com/tips provides various secure contact methods, outlining the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Illustration: Guardian Design / Rich Cousins
Source: www.theguardian.com
