Concerns about the reliability of AI-generated content have resurfaced after investigations revealed that the new ChatGPT model, GPT-5.2, has been sourcing information from Grokipedia, an AI-generated online encyclopedia created by Elon Musk in 2023.
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Researchers and journalists conducting multiple test inquiries found that GPT-5.2 referenced Grokipedia nine times out of more than a dozen questions, including sensitive topics such as Iran’s political landscape and historical matters related to Holocaust denial.
Grokipedia, which competes with Wikipedia, relies entirely on AI for content creation and updates, raising concerns about embedded biases and inaccuracies. Experts warn that heavy reliance on such AI-generated sources can mislead users and reinforce misinformation.
BREAKING: ChatGPT is now citing Elon Musk’s Grokipedia as a source in some replies. pic.twitter.com/L7R4qpBNId
— Plane12429 (@plane12429) January 25, 2026
The report by The Guardian noted that Grokipedia citations appeared primarily in obscure or less-verified questions, often making stronger claims beyond established facts. For instance, GPT-5.2 linked an Iranian telecom company to the supreme leader’s office without widely accepted evidence. However, the model did not cite Grokipedia on widely disputed topics, such as the January 6 Capitol attack or HIV/AIDS misinformation.
Other large language models (LLMs), including Anthropic’s Claude, have also been reported to source information from Grokipedia. OpenAI emphasized that its models consult a range of sources and apply safety filters to reduce the spread of harmful or misleading content.
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Experts urge users to evaluate AI-generated responses critically, stressing that dependence on AI tools for authoritative information without verification could compromise public understanding and reinforce inaccurate narratives. The incident underscores the broader challenge in AI development: ensuring transparency, reliability, and accountability while leveraging machine-generated knowledge.