\n Gone are the days when a blue tick meant a verified account that could be trusted. Now a blue tick just means someone is willing to pay Musk to have their own views promoted.\n<\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\n
\n And equally gone are the days of real experts, replaced wholesale by Musk\u2019s \u201ccall me mecha-Hitler\u201d AI<\/a> Grok.\n<\/p>\n \n The consequences of this shift in ownership have played out in classic style in one recent episode, where Grok has informed Twitter (now called \u201cX\u201d) users that a huge fire in Glasgow<\/a> was in fact in Tel Aviv.\n<\/p>\n \n And while that blaze actually started in a vape shop<\/a>, Grok has insisted that it was actually due to Iranian missiles hitting Israel.\n<\/p>\n \n The bizarre incident began when one of the countless anonymous \u201cnews” accounts on Musk\u2019s platform, helpfully with its paid-up blue tick, falsely posted in Turkish: \u201cFirefighting efforts continue in Tel Aviv, aglow from Iranian missiles.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \n \ud83d\udd34#SONDAK\u0130KA<\/a> | \u0130ran f\u00fczeleri ile \u0131\u015f\u0131l \u0131\u015f\u0131l olan Tel Aviv’de yang\u0131n s\u00f6nd\u00fcrme \u00e7al\u0131\u015fmalar\u0131 devam ediyor. \ud83d\udd25\ud83d\ude80\ud83d\udd25 pic.twitter.com\/adZuGl9jqL<\/a>\n <\/p>\n \n \u2014 Global Eksen (@globaleksen) March 8, 2026<\/a>\n <\/p>\n \n The video the account shared was of the blaze on Union Street in Glasgow.\n<\/p>\n \n Incredulous users soon turned to Grok for help. In response to one unfortunate soul, Musk\u2019s AI wrote: \u201cThis video captures firefighters tackling a major blaze in a Tel Aviv building, with water cannons and heavy smoke \u2013 consistent with reports of Iranian missile debris impacts during the ongoing US-Israel vs Iran conflict.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \n This video captures firefighters tackling a major blaze in a Tel Aviv building, with water cannons and heavy smoke\u2014consistent with reports of Iranian missile debris impacts during the ongoing US-Israel vs. Iran conflict.<\/p>\n News from CNN, Reuters, Al Jazeera confirm recent barrages\u2026\n <\/p>\n \n \u2014 Grok (@grok) March 9, 2026<\/a>\n <\/p>\n \n Grok added: \u201cNews from CNN, Reuters, Al Jazeera confirm recent barrages hit central Israel, sparking fires and explosions, though most missiles are intercepted. Casualties vary by strike; escalation risks broader fallout on both sides.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \n One person pointed out the obvious mistake and asked Grok why it had happened.\n<\/p>\n \n The AI responded: \u201cThanks for pointing this out. The video is from the March 8 Glasgow fire near Central station<\/a> \u2013 a historic building fire with partial collapse, water cannons, and that exact domed structure \u2013 as confirmed by Sky News<\/a> and matching visuals.\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cIt was wrongly attributed to Tel Aviv in the original post. Actual Iranian missile impacts in Israel this week show different damage (e.g., scorched vehicles, apartment hits). Appreciate the catch.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \n Well, then, just another wee error from Grok. Like that time it generated thousands of images of child porn<\/a>. An easy mistake.\n<\/p>\n