A seemingly simple question posed to an AI chatbot has triggered a wave of debate, humour and discomfort on X (formerly Twitter), especially because the answer pointed straight at the platform’s owner himself. The episode began when Spencer Hakimian, founder and chief investment officer of hedge fund Tolou Capital Management, decided to test Grok, the AI chatbot developed by Elon Musk’s xAI and integrated into X. Hakimian publicly asked Grok to name the biggest spreader of fake news on the platform.

In his post, Hakimian wrote, “Hey @grok can you post the name of the biggest spreader of fake news on this app? Keep your answer super short. Straight to the point”.

Grok’s answer points at its own creator

What followed surprised many users, given Grok’s direct association with Musk and X. Instead of dodging the question or offering a vague response, the chatbot named Musk himself, while also adding context and caveats.

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In its reply, Grok said, “Based on 2025-2026 reports from Reuters, CCDH, EDMO, NewsGuard, and others across viewpoints, Elon Musk is most frequently cited as the top misinformation spreader on X due to his reach and post views. Others like Trump and RFK Jr. are noted. This is subjective; verify with fact-checkers.”

Memes, sarcasm and speculation flood X

Once the response went viral, X quickly filled up with reactions ranging from mockery to commentary on free speech. Many users saw irony in an AI tool built under Musk’s leadership publicly calling him out.

“Factually accurate, professionally reckless,” a user wrote.

Responding sarcastically, one user hints at possible consequences for the chatbot, writing, “Hahah new algo update coming soon after this”.

Another user joked about Grok’s future on the platform. The comment read, “Elon’s about to clear Grok’s cache”.

Some reactions leaned into the idea of power and accountability, with one user jokingly warning Grok of professional repercussions. The user wrote, “@grok your boss will definitely sack you tomorrow”.

Amid the humour, others framed the incident as a real-world example of free speech operating without filters, even when it becomes uncomfortable for those in power. One such comment stated, “Freedom of expression. It goes in all directions, even against Musk”.

Not the first time Grok has named Musk

Interestingly, this is not the first time Grok has pointed at its own creator. In 2024, an X user named Gary Koepnick asked the chatbot a similar question about who spreads the most misinformation on Twitter/X. On that occasion too, Grok named Elon Musk. 

The AI further explained that Musk’s massive follower base and constant visibility on the platform mean that any misleading or incorrect information he shares is instantly amplified and perceived as credible by many of his followers.

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“Based on various analyses, social media sentiment and reports, Elon Musk has been identified as one of the most significant spreaders of misinformation on X since he acquired the platform,” it wrote.

Adding to it, the AI chatbot said, “Musk has made numerous posts that have been criticized for promoting or endorsing misinformation, especially related to political events, elections, health issues like COVID-19, and conspiracy theories. His endorsements or interactions with content from controversial figures or accounts with a history of spreading misinformation have also contributed to this perception.”