Elon Musk has taken another bold step toward transparency by open-sourcing X’s recommendation algorithm, allowing the public to examine how content is ranked and promoted on the platform. Announcing the move on X, Musk openly admitted that the system is far from perfect, describing it as “dumb” and in need of significant upgrades. However, he framed the decision as an opportunity for users and developers to witness the platform’s evolution in real time.

By releasing the algorithm’s code on GitHub, X is giving developers, researchers, and curious users a rare look into the mechanics that shape one of the world’s most influential social media feeds. The open-sourced system governs how posts and advertisements are ranked, how content from outside a user’s immediate network is surfaced, and how various engagement signals are weighted to determine visibility.

“We know the algorithm is dumb and needs massive improvements, but at least you can see us struggle to make it better in real time and with transparency,” Musk wrote in his post on X.

According to the company, the recommendation engine is built on the same transformer-based architecture that powers Grok, the AI model developed by Musk’s artificial intelligence venture, xAI. This means the system relies on modern AI techniques similar to those used in large language models, designed to understand patterns, relevance, and user behavior at scale.

X says the newly released codebase reflects the algorithm currently running in production, marking a key difference from earlier disclosures. In 2023, parts of Twitter’s algorithm were made public, but those versions quickly became outdated as the platform evolved. This time, Musk claims the release is more complete and closely aligned with the live system users interact with daily.

The open-source repository includes logic behind both organic content recommendations and paid advertisements. This level of access allows outsiders to study how different signals—such as likes, replies, reposts, and viewing time—interact to influence what rises to the top of a user’s feed. It also opens the door for independent analysis of potential biases, blind spots, or unintended consequences baked into the system.

Since acquiring X in 2022, Musk has repeatedly criticized what he calls “black box” algorithms used by major social media companies. He has argued that opaque recommendation systems can distort public discourse and undermine trust. By making X’s algorithm public, Musk says he wants transparency to be a foundational principle rather than something addressed through policy updates or occasional blog posts.

The move positions X as one of the few major platforms to expose its core recommendation logic so openly. While critics may question whether the full picture can ever be revealed without compromising proprietary safeguards, supporters see the decision as a meaningful experiment in openness.

For now, Musk appears content letting the world see both the strengths and flaws of X’s algorithmic engine—and, as he put it, watch the company “struggle” to make it better in full public view.