X, formerly known as Twitter, has implemented AI technology with the launch of its conversational chatbot project called Grok. Developed by xAI, a company led by Elon Musk, Grok is a generative AI integrated into X and Tesla electric cars, providing real-time access through the X platform.
In contrast to many tech companies struggling to find quality data sources to train their AI models, X has a significant advantage in this regard. However, the ethical use of this data without compromising user privacy is a matter of concern.
According to a TechCrunch report, X has been using a common method in the AI market by automatically selecting users to participate in training AI with their posted content. Users have the option to opt out of data collection, although the process can currently only be completed through a computer browser.
The issue arises from X’s initial use of user data to train the Grok AI model without prior notification or consent. This has raised concerns about user trust and potential legal implications, particularly related to GDPR compliance in Europe. The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) has expressed surprise at X’s practices and is seeking an explanation from the platform.
Similar challenges were encountered by Meta when it attempted to gather European public content, eventually retracting its plans after intervention by EU authorities.