Tesla CEO and billionaire Elon Musk acquired X in 2023, claiming he is on a mission to rejig the social media platform and make its algorithm more transparent and open-source for the first time.
The algorithm was quick and released promptly, enabling more transparency and clarity. But critics noticed that the structure lacked detail and was incomplete, and that it did not reveal much about the organization’s inner workings.
Now the site has again open-sourced its algorithm, which Musk promised last week.
“We will make the new X algorithm, including all code used to determine what organic and advertising posts are recommended to users, open source in 7 days,” he posted on X.
Tesla CEO also promised to provide more transparency into the new algorithm amid Grok controversy over sexually explicit images.
In a post on GitHub on Tuesday, X provided an accessible write-up about its feed-generating code, along with a diagram of how the program works.
The new algorithm also provides a peek behind the algorithmic curtain. It filters out certain kinds of posts, including those from blocked accounts or associated with muted keywords, as well as content deemed too violent or spam-like.
The whole system is AI-based and ensures compliance with safety rules and principles. Grok will keep an eye on what the user is clicking, liking, and what information it is grasping.
Though Musk has focused on transparency, certain aspects of the platform have arguably grown less open since Musk took it over. When the tech billionaire bought Twitter in 2022, the site was forced to transition from a public to a private company.
The recent controversy prompted many nations to impose a ban on AI chatbot Grok, putting Musk under fire and in the spotlight. The California Attorney General’s office and congressional lawmakers have both scrutinized the platform in recent weeks, citing claims that Grok has been used to create naked images of women and minors.
As a result, some may view this appeal to openness as just more theater.
