X to Release Open Source Algorithm Within Seven Days, Musk Announces
X will release its recommendation algorithm as open source within seven days, including code for posts and advertisements, with quarterly updates featuring developer notes. The platform has been integrating AI through Grok chatbot to evaluate over 100 million daily posts, though Grok faces regulatory criticism over inappropriate content generation. Multiple regions including Indonesia, UK, and France have taken action against X over content moderation and transparency issues.
*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.
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.
| Parameter: | Details |
|---|---|
| Release Timeline: | Seven days from announcement |
| Update Frequency: | Every 4 weeks |
| Included Content: | Post and advertisement recommendation code |
| Documentation: | Comprehensive developer notes |
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.
| Region/Authority: | Action Taken |
|---|---|
| Indonesia: | Blocked access to Grok |
| UK Government: | Demanded urgent action on inappropriate content |
| France: | Requested algorithm sharing for bias investigation |
| European Regulators: | Increased scrutiny on misinformation and transparency |
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.
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