San Francisco (FN) — Elon Musk has launched Grokipedia, a new artificial intelligence-powered encyclopedia developed by his AI company xAI, positioning it as a faster, more objective alternative to Wikipedia.
The platform, powered by xAI’s conversational model Grok, debuted with more than 885,000 articles. Musk described Grokipedia as a “truth-seeking knowledge base” and claimed it would be “10X better” than Wikipedia in future versions.
Unlike Wikipedia’s community-edited model, Grokipedia relies entirely on AI to generate and maintain content. Users can suggest corrections, but direct editing is not permitted. Each entry includes source citations, and the system is designed to continuously refine content using xAI’s computing infrastructure.
User reactions to Grokipedia have been mixed. Some praised the platform’s speed and AI-driven structure. “It’s refreshing to see an encyclopedia that doesn’t feel bogged down by editorial politics,” one user posted. Others expressed concern over the lack of human oversight. “AI can be powerful, but without transparency and accountability, it’s just another echo chamber,” another user wrote.
Several users noted differences in how controversial topics are presented. In one example, Grokipedia’s entry on a high-profile social justice case emphasized legal history, while Wikipedia focused on the broader societal impact. Critics say this reflects a political slant in Grokipedia’s content generation.
Musk has long criticized Wikipedia, referring to it as “Wokipedia” and accusing it of promoting political agendas. Grokipedia includes a disclaimer noting that some content is adapted from Wikipedia under Creative Commons licensing.
The launch has sparked online debate, with some users joking that Grokipedia might soon replace Wikipedia — a claim others view as premature. As Grokipedia evolves, questions remain about accuracy, editorial control, and the role of AI in shaping public knowledge.
Musk’s company xAI, founded in 2023, is part of his broader effort to challenge existing tech giants in the AI space. Grokipedia marks a new chapter in the evolution of online knowledge platforms, blending conversational AI with encyclopedic content.
