Social media platform X will make its recommendation algorithm open source to the public within seven days, owner Elon Musk announced on Saturday. The release will include the code used to decide what posts and advertisements are recommended to users on the platform.

Algorithm Release Details

Musk stated that the algorithm updates will follow a regular schedule with comprehensive documentation to help users understand changes.

The billionaire did not specify the reasons behind making X's algorithm open source, though the company has faced multiple clashes with regulators over content being shown to users.

Platform Issues and AI Integration

X has been addressing various technical and user experience challenges. In October, Musk confirmed the company had discovered a "significant bug" in the platform's "For You" algorithm and pledged a fix after users complained about receiving fewer posts from people they follow.

The company has been working to incorporate more artificial intelligence into its recommendation system using Grok, Musk's AI chatbot. In September, Musk outlined ambitious goals for the platform's AI integration:

• Make X's recommendation engine "purely AI"
• Share open source algorithm updates every two weeks
• Have Grok evaluate all 100+ million daily posts
• Offer individually tailored content recommendations

"To the degree that people are seeing improvements in their feed, it is not due to the actions of specific individuals changing heuristics, but rather increasing use of Grok and other AI tools," Musk wrote in October.

Regulatory Scrutiny and Compliance Issues

Grok's image-generation capabilities have attracted significant criticism from global regulators following a surge of AI-generated images that sexualize women and children on X. As of Friday, Grok now requires a paid subscription for users to generate and edit images, moving away from the initially free service with daily limits.

International regulatory responses have been swift and decisive:

UK Technology Secretary Liz Kendall warned in a Friday statement that the government could "block services from being accessed in the UK, if they refuse to comply with UK law."

Previous Commitments and Transparency

Musk has made similar promises about algorithm transparency in recent years, though follow-through has been inconsistent. European regulators have particularly increased scrutiny of the company, focusing on misinformation, inadequate content moderation, and transparency shortcomings.

In July, French authorities requested the company share its algorithm as part of a probe into allegations of bias and manipulation. X declined to comply with the request at the time, characterizing the investigation as politically motivated.

The upcoming algorithm release represents another attempt by X to address transparency concerns while managing ongoing regulatory pressure across multiple jurisdictions.

Social media platform X will make its recommendation algorithm open source within seven days, owner Elon Musk announced on Saturday. The release will include the code used to decide what posts and advertisements are recommended to users, marking a significant transparency move for the platform.

Algorithm Release Details

Musk stated that the algorithm release will be comprehensive, featuring detailed developer notes to help users understand the changes. The company plans to repeat this process every four weeks, providing regular updates on algorithmic modifications.

The announcement did not specify the reasons behind making the algorithm open source, though X has faced multiple clashes with regulators over content shown to users.

AI Integration and Platform Issues

X has been working to incorporate more artificial intelligence into its recommendation system using Grok, Musk's AI chatbot. The company aims to have Grok evaluate all of the more than 100 million daily posts published to X, offering individual users the posts most likely to interest them.

Musk previously wrote that the goal was for X's recommendation engine to "be purely AI" and that improvements in user feeds would come from "increasing use of Grok and other AI tools" rather than individual actions changing heuristics. The company had planned to roll out new features by November.

The platform has experienced technical issues, including a "significant bug" in the "For You" algorithm that Musk confirmed in October, which had caused users to receive fewer posts from people they follow.

Regulatory Scrutiny and Compliance Issues

Grok's image-generation capabilities have faced criticism from global regulators over AI-generated inappropriate content. As of Friday, users now require a paid subscription to generate and edit images, a change from the initially free service with daily limits.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer demanded X "get their act together" over sexualized images, while Technology Secretary Liz Kendall warned the government could "block services from being accessed in the UK, if they refuse to comply with UK law."

Previous Transparency Commitments

Musk has made similar promises about algorithm transparency in recent years, though follow-through has been inconsistent. In September, he wrote that X would share its open source algorithm approximately every two weeks, though this timeline was not maintained.

European regulators have stepped up scrutiny of X, focusing on misinformation, inadequate content moderation, and transparency shortcomings. In July, French authorities requested the company share its algorithm as part of a probe into allegations of bias and manipulation. X refused to comply with the request, accusing the investigation of being politically motivated.