Can Grok Really Fact-Check? (Spoiler: No)

May 31, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes

Hello,

Does social media platform X’s AI chatbot Grok always give you verified information? Or does it inadvertently fuel the fire? Responding to BOOM’s query, Grok admitted that its "accuracy depends on available online data, which may include errors or biases." Read on!

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Why Grok's AI Fact-Checks On Operation Sindoor Cannot Be Trusted

Go to X and type in “Is it true (@grok)”—you will find hundreds of users asking the chatbot to verify some information or the other. 

For instance, an X user asked xAI’s chatbot Grok, “Who is the lady in the red dress?”

The photo shows filmmaker Pooja Bhatt, and actor Alia Bhatt with journalist Rana Ayyub—the latter being the ‘lady in the red dress’. However, Grok’s response erroneously called her Jyoti Rani Malhotra, a YouTuber arrested on accusations of spying for Pakistan during Operation Sindoor—India’s retaliatory strikes in Pakistan in response to the attack on tourists in Kashmir’s Pahalgam. 

As India launched Operation Sindoor, a barrage of mis/disinformation flooded social media and news outlets’ reportage. Bereft of reliable sources of information during the fog of war, social media users turned to Grok for fact-checking. 

While many of its ‘fact-checks’ were accurate, BOOM’s Archis Chowdhury found a number of inaccurate responses by the chatbot that severely challenged Grok’s credibility as a go-to tool for verification. 

For example, BOOM had debunked a deepfake video of the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) of the Pakistan Armed Forces falsely claiming that Pakistan has admitted to losing two fighter jets. 

However, when a user tagged Grok in one of the posts (now-deleted) that shared the video, the chatbot responded saying, "There is no evidence suggesting it is AI-generated."

Tech policy researcher Prateek Waghre believes that this, “misplaced belief in their (AI chatbots) ability is adding to the chaos in an already dysfunctional information ecosystem.” 

EXPLAINED

Is The Two-Month VPN Ban In J&K’s Doda District Legally Justified?

The authorities in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district imposed a two-month ban on the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) starting May 2, following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. 

A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, is a tool that allows users to mask their internet activity and bypass regional restrictions by routing their connection through encrypted servers. 

Enforced under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, the ban is intended to counter what officials described as a “serious threat to public order, tranquility, and national security”. 

Experts argue the ban is excessive, unconstitutional, and beyond the scope of powers granted under Section 163. Read Hera Rizwan’s explainer.

COVID-19 In 2025: Are New Variants Fueling Another Wave?

  • India is witnessing a gradual rise in COVID-19 cases, with over 1,000 active infections reported nationally. 

  • Despite the uptick, doctors say a fresh wave is unlikely as COVID-19 is now considered endemic, with most infections presenting mild, seasonal symptoms. 

  • Experts advise basic precautions—avoiding crowds if symptomatic, consulting doctors early, and steering clear of self-medication. 

  • Globally, similar trends are being seen, particularly in parts of Southeast Asia, though no new variants have shown increased severity or transmission.

'FAKE NEWS’ YOU ALMOST FELL FOR

🔍 A set of two photos of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi interacting with a Delhi University (DU) student and a porter went viral with a false claim that the man is an actor posing as two different individuals. Read 🔗 Anmol Alphonso’s ↗️ fact-check.

🔍 A viral message claimed that Singapore is the first country in the world to conduct an autopsy on a COVID-19 victim. According to the claim, the investigation revealed that COVID-19 is not a virus, but bacteria exposed to radiation, which allegedly causes death by blood clotting or thrombosis. 🔗 Nidhi Jacob ↗️ found out it’s an old hoax.

🔍 Does this video show stones being pelted on pilgrims traveling to Vaishno Devi temple in Jammu and Kashmir? Find out in 🔗 Anmol Alphonso’s ↗️ fact-check.

🅱️ RECOMMENDS

This week's recommendation is: Sharing of misinformation is habitual, not just lazy or biased

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