It’s important to understand that data is everything. Like other companies, X has started using your posts to train its AI chatbot without asking you. Don’t let them pull the wool over your eyes, protect your data everywhere. Here’s how to disable Grok from swallowing your data.
X recently started passing public posts to its AI chat platform Grok without notifying users. The move is aimed at strengthening Grok’s language model, but many people say it was done without asking for their permission.
What is Grok AI
Grok AI is X’s conversational artificial intelligence chatbot, developed by xAI, Elon Musk’s AI company. Launched in 2023, Grok is designed to engage in human-like conversations and answer questions on a wide range of topics.
It’s trained on X’s vast database of public posts and conversations, giving it access to real-time information. Grok is known for its ability to understand context and provide witty responses, often with a touch of sass. It’s integrated into X’s platform, allowing users to interact with it directly. However, its data collection practices have raised privacy concerns among users.
How to disable Grok from your X account
Ready to show Grok the door? Here’s a step-by-step guide to disable this data-hungry AI from munching on your posts:
- Log into X on a desktop computer.
- Click the “More” button at the bottom of your screen.
- Select “Settings and privacy”.
- Find “Grok” under “Data sharing and personalization”.
- Uncheck the box next to “Allow your posts as well as your interactions, inputs, and results with Grok to be used for training and fine-tuning”.
By following these steps, you’ll prevent X from using your posts to train Grok. This option is currently available only on the web version but will soon roll out to mobile devices. Users should not have this option automatically selected but should be able to turn it on themselves if they wish.
Grok off the hidden setting
X introduced this new setting quietly under privacy options. What’s even more surprising is that it’s open by default. If you don’t actively disable it, Grok can process your messages without your knowledge and get them to its pool of information.
X’s Security team confirmed this new setting in a tweet they shared. All X users were used to empower the X public and train AI-seeking assistant Grok and were not stored for anything else, only that Grok had access. Even if it’s true, of course. They also said that users can turn this feature off as they like, fortunately.
All X users have the ability to control whether their public posts can be used to train Grok, the AI search assistant. This option is in addition to your existing controls over whether your interactions, inputs, and results related to Grok can be utilized. This setting is…
— Safety (@Safety) July 26, 2024
The change just goes beyond the settings page. X’s “About Grok” page now contains an explanation of the use of educational publications. This information was not available in previous versions of the page.
While disabling the setting is the most direct way to stop Grok from using your data, there’s another option: making your account private. However, this can limit your experience on X, so it might not be the best choice for everyone.
The newly introduced option to opt-out gives users more control over their data. It’s a crucial step in maintaining privacy in an age where AI platforms are constantly seeking data to improve their models.
Remember, your posts and interactions on X are valuable. By taking a few moments to adjust your settings, you can decide whether you want to contribute to Grok’s development or keep your thoughts to yourself.
X’s decision to use public posts for AI training without explicit consent raises questions about data privacy and user rights. While the platform now offers a way to opt-out, it’s up to users to take action and disable Grok if they wish to keep their posts off-limits to AI training.
Stay informed, adjust your settings, and keep Grok from grokking your every word. After all, in the digital age, controlling your data is as crucial as controlling what you say in the first place.
Featured image credit: Mariia Shalabaieva / Unsplash
