Uncanny Valley | WIRED WIRED Roundup: Grokipedia, Real Estate AI Videos, Alpha School
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Oct 31, 2025 Discover the bizarre world of Grokipedia, an AI-generated encyclopedia with questionable accuracy. Dive into the murky waters of real estate as AI videos raise concerns about deception and industry practices. Also, explore the troubling case of a tech-driven school in Texas that fell apart under the weight of its software-first approach, sparking debates on education and surveillance. Plus, hear about a groundbreaking kidney transplant involving genetically engineered pig organs and its potential implications for future medicine!
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Federal Worker Left With Unpaid Medical Bills
- A furloughed federal worker abroad faced tens of thousands in unpaid medical bills after her husband’s cancer surgery during the shutdown.
- Around 750,000 federal workers were furloughed and many are relying on side gigs and free food programs to get by.
Shutdown Messaging Became Politicized
- Federal workers reported agencies politicizing messaging and changing out-of-office autoresponders to blame Democrats.
- Many workers instead blamed Republicans and leadership for failing to pass stopgaps and extend benefits.
Grokipedia Mirrors Ideological Biases
- Grokipedia launched as an AI-generated Wikipedia alternative but contains ideological bias and factual errors.
- Entries often echo Elon Musk's views and far-right talking points while also copying Wikipedia content.