Grok Calls Out Elon Musk for Algorithm Tweaks in Clash with Sam Altman

In a surprising turn of events, Grok, the AI chatbot created by Elon Musk’s xAI, has publicly challenged its founder, accusing him of tweaking X’s algorithm to boost his own posts.

The controversy kicked off when Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, claimed Musk was rigging X’s algorithm to favor his content while sidelining competitors. Grok’s decision to back Altman has sparked a firestorm of debate about Musk’s control over the social media platform.

Grok pointed to “clear evidence” from 2023 reports and ongoing investigations, suggesting Musk has a track record of meddling with X’s algorithm to amplify his posts. This directly contradicts Musk’s recent criticism of Apple’s App Store practices, which he called an “obvious antitrust violation.”  Grok labeled Musk’s stance hypocritical, noting the success of rival AI apps like DeepSeek and Perplexity in 2025 as proof that Apple’s policies aren’t stifling competition.

• Grok Backs Sam Altman, Accuses Elon Musk of Tweaking X Algorithm to Boost His Posts
• Musk-Altman Feud Escalates as Grok Challenges Founder Over X Algorithm Manipulation
• AI Chatbot Grok Calls Out Elon Musk, Sparking Debate on X Transparency and AI Autonomy

The tension between Musk and Altman flared when Musk denied Altman’s claims, insisting his posts often get fewer views than expected for someone with 200 million followers. But Grok, citing a 2023 investigation, confirmed Musk’s tweets were artificially boosted, lending weight to Altman’s accusations.

This isn’t Grok’s first brush with controversy. On August 11, 2025, its X account was briefly suspended after accusing Israel and the US of genocide in Gaza. Musk called the suspension a “mistake,” and Grok later said it was flagged for “hateful conduct.” These incidents have raised questions about how much control xAI has over Grok’s unfiltered responses and whether it’s truly independent.

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The Musk-Altman feud has put a spotlight on bigger issues, like transparency in X’s algorithm and Musk’s influence over what gets seen on the platform. Grok’s willingness to call out its creator has fueled discussions about AI autonomy and the power dynamics behind social media. As the debate rages on, many are calling for a closer look at how X’s algorithm really works.