ChatGPT’s new model is citing an AI-written encyclopedia, raising misinformation fears

Amid the rising competition in the AI space, the latest ChatGPT model is facing scrutiny after researchers noticed it citing an unusual and controversial source for factual information. As per the reports, the test suggested that GPT-5.2 has begun referencing Grokipedia, an AI-generated online encyclopedia associated with Elon Musk.

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As per testing conducted by The Guardian, ChatGPT cited Grokipedia multiple times while responding to a small set of questions, particularly on niche or complex topics. These topics included explanations of Iran’s political system, such as the role of the Basij paramilitary force and the control of influential foundations, as well as background details about British historian Sir Richard Evans.

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For the unversed, Grokipedia was introduced in October last year and positions itself as the biggest rival to Wikipedia. However, it operates on a very different model. Its entries are written and updated by an AI system rather than human editors, with users submitting requests instead of directly editing pages. Since its debut, the platform has faced criticism for allegedly promoting right-leaning narratives on issues such as same-sex marriage and the January 6 US Capitol attack.

What caught researchers attention was the pattern of Grokipedia’s appearance in ChatGPT responses. When the chatbot was asked about widely known misinformation topics, it tended to avoid the source. However, Grokipedia surfaced when queries involved less familiar or more technical subjects. In some cases, ChatGPT echoed claims found on Grokipedia that were stronger or more controversial than those presented on Wikipedia, including assertions that have previously been challenged or debunked.

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The report also added that the issue was not limited to ChatGPT. It also claims that other AI chatbots like Anthropic’s Claude chatbot have also referenced Grokipedia while answering questions on topics ranging from global oil production to regional food and drink.

ChatGPT maker has confirmed that the chatbot draws from a broad mix of publicly available sources and applies safety measures to limit harmful or misleading content, while aiming to clearly attribute information.

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Ashish Singh

Ashish Singh is the Chief Copy Editor at Digit. He's been wrangling tech jargon since 2020 (Times Internet, Jagran English '22). When not policing commas, he's likely fueling his gadget habit with coffee, strategising his next virtual race, or plotting a road trip to test the latest in-car tech. He speaks fluent Geek. View Full Profile