X, formerly known as Twitter, has rolled out a change that automatically feeds users’ data to the company’s ChatGPT competitor Grok.

It is easy to opt out of this so that Grok is not able to use your X posts or interactions. We would advise all writers to do this.

Many writers build an online following to encourage and help people to engage with their work. This can include sharing text, pictures, videos or audio which contain writers’ intellectual property.

X users may therefore find that the content they post has been used to develop AI without their explicit consent. This is something WGGB has been campaigning against.

You can read our policy position statement Writers and AI and recommendations on AI in our manifesto Putting writers at the heart of the story, which we released in the run-up to the General Election.

To opt out of your data being used by Grok

• Access your X account via a computer (not your phone or tablet)
• Go to More – Settings and Privacy – Privacy and Safety – Grok
• On the right hand side of your screen you will see some text titled Data Sharing
• Under that there is a checkbox with the following text next to it: Allow your posts as well as your interactions, inputs, and results with Grok to be used for training and fine-tuning
• Uncheck this box
• Underneath this there is also the option to delete your past conversations on Grok which will clear your previous data.

WGGB members who have any concerns about AI and infringements of your intellectual property, please drop a line to casework@writersguild.org.uk and our casework team can advise.

Photo: Sutterstock.com/Ascannio