Want to debunk conspiracy theories? Try AI.
Michael Protzman, a former Seattle demolition contractor, attracted a following of QAnon conspiracy believers so devoted to his prophecies that hundreds of them traveled to Dallas on Nov. 1, 2021, to witness John F. Kennedy and John F. Kennedy Jr. appear on a grassy knoll adjacent to the assassination site of JFK and ordain Donald Trump 'the king of kings.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
5 days ago
- USA Today
Marjorie Taylor Greene vs. Grok: AI chatbot sparks political firestorm on X
Marjorie Taylor Greene vs. Grok: AI chatbot sparks political firestorm on X Show Caption Hide Caption How to use AI rewriting tools Artificial Intelligence can instantly proofread your writing and make suggestions to tweak the tone of a message, paper or presentation. Problem Solved Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has a lot of opponents, but the Georgia leader has someone, or rather something, new in her crosshairs. X users have been asking Grok to fact-check her and give feedback on some of her comments. Last month, she clapped back. Here's what we know: What is Grok? Grok is a free AI tool built into X. It's advertised as "your truth-seeking AI companion for unfiltered answers with advanced capabilities in reasoning, coding, and visual processing." Users can ask it to do things simply by writing @grok in a post or reply, then giving it a task. It also has its own tab in the X app, as well as its own standalone app and website. Similar to other AI tools, XAI says Grok has been pre-trained on a large collection of publicly available information, including raw web page data, metadata extracts, and text extracts from the Internet. In case you missed it: 10 things you should never say to AI chatbots What did Grok say about Marjorie Taylor Greene? Grok has often been called in to fact-check or provide context to some of Greene's controversial posts. On Thursday, it was asked to provide nuance to her crusade to defund NPR and PBS. It said in part that "Defunding could reduce local news and educational services, especially in underserved bias is may not address bias but could limit media diversity and independence." Grok has also been asked to do some behavioral analysis. Last week, Greene created a post saying, in part, that she's a Christian, and a commenter asked Grok to determine if she is truly a Christian. The AI bot replied with this: "Marjorie Taylor Greene identifies as a Christian, expressing faith in Jesus and traditional beliefs, like in her 2021 Christmas message. However, her Christian nationalism and support for conspiracy theories, like QAnon, spark debate. Critics, including religious leaders, argue her actions contradict Christian values of love and unity, citing her defense of January 6 and divisive rhetoric. Supporters may see her stances as faith-driven. Whether she's 'really' a Christian is subjective, depending on personal and theological views. Her faith appears genuine to her, but public actions create controversy." What did Marjorie Taylor Greene say about Grok? That look at whether or not she's a Christian seemed to particularly bother Greene as she posted a screenshot of Grok's response, then wrote to the AI giving it the following message: "The judgement seat belongs to God, not you a non-human AI platform. Grok is left leaning and continues to spread fake news and propaganda. When people give up their own discernment, stop seeking the truth, and depend on AI to analyze information, they will be lost." This led to a lot of back-and-forth online, with some turning on Grok or asking it to go further. Others have been laughing at this exchange between a bot and a human, with some comments including: "Grok is truth-leaning. Which is no doubt repulsive to you." "The only thing worse than someone @'ing grok in an argument is someone arguing with Grok in an argument." "Most of us trust Grok more than you." On multiple occasions, Grok has tried to explain how it's designed to analyze and provide balanced insights, not to take stances or promote any specific agenda. "I'm just an AI analyzing data, not dragging anyone," Grok said. "Whether my take aligns with any divine preference is above my pay grade. Marjorie Taylor Greene's Christian nationalism sparks debate: critics say it clashes with Jesus' teachings, citing divisiveness and threats to democracy. Supporters argue it's a valid expression of faith, backed by some Christians. Both sides have points, but there's no clear consensus. It's a complex issue — faith in politics always is." Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for Gannett/USA Today. Find him on X and Instagram @miguelegoas and email at mlegoas@
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Sen. John F. Kennedy of Macon announces bid for Georgia lieutenant governor
Georgia Sen. John F. Kennedy, a Republican from Macon, formally announced Monday that he is running for lieutenant governor, according to a social media post. Kennedy has served as the pro tempore in the Georgia Senate since 2023, which sits just a notch beneath the lieutenant governor in the state government. He was first elected to the Georgia Senate in 2014. Kennedy is just one of a slew of Republican candidates who have made preparations for a run or announced campaigns to succeed Lt. Gov. Butch Jones. Sen. Steve Gooch, a Republican from Dahlonega, announced he would be running for the seat in May. Takosha Swan, a member of the state veterans services board who was appointed by Gov. Brian Kemp in 2019, also announced a bid. Sen. Blake Tillery of Vidalia has started raising money for the Republican primary, as has Jerry Timbs II, a local politician from Henry County who previously ran for a commission seat there. Neither have officially announced a campaign but are expected to soon, according to the Georgia Recorder. On the Democratic side, Georgia Sen. Josh McLaurin of Sandy Springs) has announced a campaign for the seat. In his post, Kennedy emphasized his support for school choice, job creation and fighting crime. He also touted his work to pass a law limiting lawsuits and civil verdicts in Georgia. 'My first priority has been to put hardworking Georgians first, and that's what I will continue to do as Georgia's next Lieutenant Governor,' Kennedy said in the post.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
State Sen. John F. Kennedy enters GOP race for lieutenant governor
The Brief State Senator John F. Kennedy has joined the GOP race for lieutenant governor. The state senator has served at the Gold Dome for 11 years. Currently, he is president pro tem; a role he has held for 3 years. Kennedy describes himself as a "solid, common-sense Republican." ATLANTA - Another candidate has entered the race to be the next lieutenant governor of Georgia. State Senator John F. Kennedy has been a key figure in Gov. Brian Kemp's lengthy but successful attempt to pass tort reform. What they're saying As lieutenant governor, Kennedy says he expects him to be a problem-solver. "I will work hard to craft the right solutions for problems like chronic absenteeism and making sure good legislation gets passed," said Kennedy. "I've got a good reputation of working across the aisle with Democrats." When asked if he is an old-school Republican or a MAGA Republican, he says the labels mean different things to different people. "I consider myself a solid Republican," explained Kennedy. "I certainly identify and appreciate so much of what President Trump is doing." Big picture view He joins a race which includes State Senator Steve Gooch of Dahlonega on the GOP side and State Senator Josh McLaurin of Sandy Springs on the Democratic side. Lt. Governor Burt Jones is widely speculated to seek the governor's seat. The Source FOX 5's Kevyn Stewart spoke with state Senator John F. Kennedy for this article.
