Elon Musk has unveiled plans for a new online knowledge platform called “Grokipedia,” developed under his artificial intelligence company xAI, which he described as a “massive improvement” over Wikipedia. The announcement comes amid growing debate about neutrality on the world’s largest free encyclopedia, following criticisms by Wikipedia co-founder Larry Sanger over its editorial practices.
Sanger, who left Wikipedia more than two decades ago, recently reignited concerns about bias on the platform during an appearance on the Tucker Carlson Show. He highlighted the site’s “Reliable sources/Perennial sources” page, which assigns credibility rankings to publications. According to Sanger, the system disadvantages conservative-leaning outlets such as Fox News, the Daily Caller, and the New York Post by classifying them as unreliable, while mainstream and progressive publications like The New York Times, CNN, and Mother Jones are favored as reliable.
Sanger also raised transparency concerns, claiming that 85 percent of Wikipedia’s most influential editors operate anonymously, a group he referred to as the “Power 62.” On X, the social platform formerly known as Twitter, Musk amplified Sanger’s claims, writing “Curiouser and curiouser” and quipping that Wikipedia should be renamed “Wokipedia.” The remark echoed longstanding complaints from some quarters that the platform has increasingly leaned toward the political left, a sentiment reflected in previous reports by conservative-leaning outlets such as the Washington Examiner.
Positioning Grokipedia as an alternative, Musk suggested the platform will allow for a freer exchange of information and broader sourcing, framing it as part of xAI’s larger mission to “understand the Universe.” The billionaire entrepreneur said the project aims to challenge entrenched editorial gatekeeping and open space for perspectives that he argues are marginalized on existing platforms.
The move marks Musk’s latest expansion into the media and information space. Since acquiring Twitter in 2022 and rebranding it as X in 2023, he has championed the idea of free speech and openness as central to the platform’s identity. In July 2025, xAI completed an all-stock acquisition of X, formally aligning the AI startup with Musk’s social media ecosystem. Industry analysts say this integration gives Musk a powerful base for testing Grokipedia by connecting AI-driven knowledge sharing with the vast user network of X.
Wikipedia remains one of the internet’s most visited websites, with more than 18 billion page views monthly and millions of volunteer contributors worldwide. But the controversy over its reliability standards continues to spark debate about who gets to define truth in an era of polarized media. Musk’s Grokipedia, while still in development, is being presented as a direct challenge to that model, one that could reshape the future of online knowledge if it succeeds in balancing openness with accuracy.
