Grokipedia vs Wikipedia: Sanjeev Sanyal lists 20 instances of Wiki's 'religious bias', cites Ram Mandir entry among others

Sanjeev Sanyal

Noted economist and Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council member Sanjeev Sanyal on Wednesday listed out twenty instances when Wikipedia demonstrated an inherent India-centric bias when formulating a response on many topics which are perceived to be anti-minority and attaching  a religious dimension, termed Grokipedia--  a new AI-powered encyclopedia, more balanced and neutral in its formulations.

Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI has unveiled Grokipedia, a new AI-powered encyclopedia that the tech mogul describes as a “truth-seeking knowledge base.” The platform,  is being positioned as a faster, more factual, and less “politically biased” alternative to Wikipedia, the world’s most-visited reference website.

Following the launch, Musk took to X to share details about the project. “Cool. I’m reading these for the first time btw,” he posted. “Grok generated about 1M articles using a lot of compute. You will be able to ask Grok to add/modify/delete articles and it will either take the action or tell you it won’t and why.”

Presenting a detailed explanation of how Grokipedia and Wikipedia differed in their response to certain topics, Sanyal wrote: "Provide 20 Significant Instances of Grokipedia Corrections to Wikipedia's Ideological Biases on India-Related Issues. Below is Grok's answer".

"xAI, uses the Grok AI model to generate and revise articles, addressing perceived biases in Wikipedia such as overemphasis on minority victimhood, colonial-era narratives, and downplaying of Hindu or nationalist perspectives. These corrections often incorporate court verdicts, primary sources, and balanced viewpoints to promote neutrality.

These are the 20 notable examples based on early user analyses, X discussions, and media comparisons.: 

2020 Delhi Riots
Change: Wikipedia: "Two-thirds of the dead were Muslims, shot, slashed, set on fire—emphasis on Muslim victims. Hindu victims a passing reference. 'Chiefly Hindu mobs' attacking Muslims. Muslims remain missing." Grokipedia: "Plain numbers without spotlight on any one community. 'Triggered by prolonged disruptions by the sit-ins' (missing context from Wikipedia). 'Though violence had already begun with stone-pelting from protest sites' (another crucial context completely absent in the Wikipedia version). Stockpiled weapons, petrol bombs, targeted killings mimicking jihadist tactics…all missing in the Wikipedia piece."
Why: To correct Wikipedia's selective victim emphasis and omission of provocations like CAA protest disruptions, adding context from investigations for a balanced, non-communal narrative.

Godhra Train Burning
Change: Wikipedia: Frames it as a contested incident with neutral or ambiguous cause. Grokipedia: "Explicitly states the train was set on fire by a Muslim mob, citing forensic evidence and court convictions, without dilution or ambiguity."
Why: To counter Wikipedia's hedging on established facts from the Nanavati Commission and Supreme Court, restoring empirical clarity on a pivotal 2002 event.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)
Change: Wikipedia: Labels it "right-wing, paramilitary, with ties to Hindu nationalism." Grokipedia: "Describes it as a volunteer organization focused on cultural and social service, omitting trigger words like 'right-wing' or 'paramilitary'; highlights disaster relief and nation-building roles."
Why: To remove Wikipedia's pejorative framing that equates voluntary service with extremism, emphasizing documented contributions for objective portrayal.

Ram Janmabhoomi
Change: Wikipedia: Frames Hindu claims of a pre-existing temple as "contested." Grokipedia: "Presents the Hindu narrative as historical fact, treating the pre-existing temple as proven via ASI excavations; includes a separate section rebutting denial narratives."
Why: To align with the 2019 Supreme Court verdict and archaeological evidence, countering Wikipedia's equivocation that perpetuates colonial-era skepticism.

Narendra Modi and 2002 Gujarat Riots
Change: Wikipedia: Links Modi to "Islamophobia" and unproven allegations. Grokipedia: "Notes the Supreme Court exoneration, stating 'allegations were legally settled beyond doubt, with no wrongdoing found after multiple investigations.'"
Why: To incorporate judicial closure from SIT and Supreme Court rulings, avoiding Wikipedia's reliance on discredited claims for a fact-based biography.

OpIndia
Change: Wikipedia: Minimal or critical coverage as a "right-wing portal." Grokipedia: "Detailed neutral profile highlighting investigative journalism on underreported issues, without ideological labels."
Why: To balance Wikipedia's dismissive tone, recognizing OpIndia's role in countering mainstream media biases on Indian affairs.

Pakistan-Sponsored Terrorism in India
Change: Wikipedia: General references with diplomatic nuance. Grokipedia: "Directly describes ISI-backed operations like Pulwama and 26/11 as state-sponsored jihad, citing declassified intel and convictions."
Why: To address Wikipedia's softening of evidence from Indian dossiers and UN reports, providing unvarnished security context.

Partition of India
Change: Wikipedia: Emphasizes British haste and Hindu-Muslim parity in violence. Grokipedia: "Highlights Direct Action Day by Jinnah's league as the trigger, with data on disproportionate Hindu/Sikh casualties from official records."
Why: To correct Wikipedia's neutral diffusion of blame, incorporating Radcliffe Commission findings for accurate historical causation.

Ayodhya Dispute
Change: Wikipedia: Balanced but lengthy on Muslim claims. Grokipedia: "Prioritizes 500-year Hindu worship evidence and 2019 verdict, condensing counter-claims to a footnote."
Why: To reflect the Supreme Court's finality and ASI digs, reducing Wikipedia's over-weighting of revisionist narratives.

Kashmir Conflict
Change: Wikipedia: Focuses on human rights abuses by Indian forces. Grokipedia: "Balances with Pakistani infiltration and Article 370 abrogation benefits, citing reduced militancy stats post-2019."
Why: To include post-revocation data from Indian government reports, countering Wikipedia's one-sided emphasis on separatist viewpoints.

Sikh Riots 1984
Change: Wikipedia: Centers on Congress-led anti-Sikh violence. Grokipedia: "Adds context of Operation Blue Star's necessity due to Bhindranwale's militancy, with equal weight on inquiries."
Why: To provide full prelude from Nanavati Commission, avoiding Wikipedia's isolated framing that ignores security imperatives.

Caste System in India
Change: Wikipedia: Portrays it as rigid, oppressive hierarchy. Grokipedia: "Describes varna as fluid occupational guilds in Vedic texts, with modern reforms and affirmative action highlighted."
Why: To draw from primary Dharmashastra sources, correcting Wikipedia's colonial anthropologic distortions.

Hinduism
Change: Wikipedia: Includes Western critiques of polytheism and caste. Grokipedia: "Emphasizes philosophical unity (Advaita) and global contributions, minimizing outdated Orientalist views."
Why: To prioritize indigenous texts like Upanishads over biased 19th-century scholarship, fostering cultural self-representation.

Nehru-Gandhi Family
Change: Wikipedia: Hagiographic on independence role. Grokipedia: "Notes dynastic politics and policy critiques like China 1962 war, balanced with achievements."
Why: To include declassified records and historian analyses, countering Wikipedia's uncritical legacy narrative.

Babri Masjid Demolition
Change: Wikipedia: Frames as unprovoked Hindu aggression. Grokipedia: "Contextualizes with prior Muslim encroachments and 1949 idol placement, per Liberhan Commission." Why: To integrate commission findings on mutual provocations, for a less partisan account.

Article 370 Abrogation
Change: Wikipedia: Stresses loss of autonomy and unrest. Grokipedia: "Highlights economic integration and decline in terror incidents, citing 2024 stats."
Why: To update with post-2019 data from Indian MoD, addressing Wikipedia's outdated alarmism.

Vedic Scholarship
Change: Wikipedia: Relies on Western translations. Grokipedia: "Incorporates indigenous interpretations, acknowledging colonial filters in academia."
Why: To rectify 250-year epistemic bias from Boden Chair-era distortions, using primary Sanskrit sources.

CAA-NRC Protests
Change: Wikipedia: Portrays as anti-Muslim citizenship law. Grokipedia: "Clarifies CAA protects persecuted minorities, with protests linked to misinformation."
Why: To align with government affidavits and Supreme Court stays, countering Wikipedia's activist-driven framing.

Subhas Chandra Bose
Change: Wikipedia: Downplays INA's role vs. Gandhi's non-violence. Grokipedia: "Elevates Bose's armed struggle as decisive in British exit, per declassified files."
Why: To balance with Transfer of Power documents, reducing Wikipedia's Nehruvian tilt.

Hindu Kush Genocide
Change: Wikipedia: Brief or absent. Grokipedia: "Dedicated section on 18th-century massacres during Afghan invasions, with casualty estimates from Persian chronicles."
Why: To fill Wikipedia's omission of pre-colonial Hindu atrocities, ensuring comprehensive historical equity.