Just as promised , Elon Musk has made Twitter ’s algorithm open - source meaning everybody is free to trawl through the code and pluck apart how it works . Sharp - eyed users quickly espy that part of the algorithm even features Musk ’s name , a feature that he say was unknown to him .
During aTwitter Spaces live eventon Friday , March 31 , Musk deal interrogative about the societal media platform ’s source computer code being published onGitHubafter it had been leaked online . Users pointed out that “ author_is_elon " has beencoded intoTwitter ’s recommendation algorithmic rule , identifying it was Musk who posted the tweet .
" I think it ’s weird , " Musk answer . " This is the first time I ’m learning of this , by the way . "
It was also clocked that the codification registered tweet author by " Republican , " " Democrat , " and " power user " as specific directives for the testimonial algorithm under For You . These parts of the computer code have since been removed .
Illuminating these kinds of “ stupefied and embarrassing ” sixth sense into the algorithm is all part of the process , Musksaid . He say the telephoner : " It definitely should n’t be dividing mass into Democrats and Republicans , that makes no sense . It sound like you ’ve identified something we should get rid of mighty away , quite frankly . ”
Twitter post the full code on GitHub last week . Ina web log post , it explains that the open - source approach could assist exploiter with how Twitter decide which tweet show up on your For You timeline .
The social media behemoth also says it ’s also opting for this drill to help refine the algorithm by opening it up to user criticism and feedback . " The aim is not to say ' hey , here is our incredible clear - source : it is a flawless gem . ' It ’s like , no , it ’s got a lot of issues that require to be fixed and I think you might have identified at least one of them , " Musk said .
“ Our ‘ algorithm ’ is overly complex & not in full understood internally . People will discover many silly things , but we ’ll patch issues as soon as they ’re find ! We ’re developing a simplified coming to dish out more compelling tweet , but it ’s still a work in progress . That ’ll also be clear source , ” Musktweeted .
“ provide codification transparence will be incredibly embarrassing at first , but it should lead to rapid betterment in recommendation quality . Most significantly , we hope to realise your trust , ” he added .
