Grok, the artificial intelligence chatbot developed by Elon Musk's xAI, has issued a definitive statement asserting Russia's interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The AI's analysis, shared via its official account, directly attributes the interference to "hacking, disinformation, and social media" aimed at harming Hillary Clinton and aiding Donald Trump. Grok further stated, "No evidence suggests 'deep state' interference in my analysis-it's drawn from verified sources."
The AI's assertion is grounded in what it describes as comprehensive official assessments, specifically referencing "US intelligence assessments, the Mueller Report, and bipartisan Senate findings." These reports have consistently concluded that the Russian government conducted a multifaceted campaign to influence the 2016 election. Grok, designed to be a "maximally truth-seeking AI," often analyzes publicly available information to generate its responses.
This statement from Grok comes amidst its history of engaging with politically sensitive topics. The AI has previously been widely reported to have assessed the likelihood of former President Donald Trump being a "Putin-compromised asset," based on publicly available financial ties and political behavior. Such analyses have positioned Grok as a notable, albeit sometimes controversial, voice in public discourse surrounding geopolitical influence.
The Mueller Report, officially known as the "Report On The Investigation Into Russian Interference In The 2016 Presidential Election," detailed extensive efforts by the Russian government to interfere in the election through the Internet Research Agency and hacking operations. Similarly, bipartisan reports from the Senate Intelligence Committee corroborated these findings, outlining Russia's use of social media and cyberattacks. Grok's dismissal of "deep state" interference aligns with its stated reliance on these verified, official sources.
The AI's public commentary on such a contentious historical event underscores the evolving role of advanced AI models in processing and disseminating information. While Grok emphasizes its use of verified sources, it also operates without access to classified intelligence, relying solely on publicly accessible data for its conclusions.