X Cleans House: 1.7 Million Bots Removed as Elon Musk Targets Next Phase of AI Policing

Elon Musk's X has taken a significant step in combating spam by eliminating 1.7 million bots involved in reply spam, as announced by Head of Product Nikita Bier. This initiative aims to enhance user experience, with plans to tackle DM spam next.

Bier shared on Monday that the platform is actively working to improve its environment by removing these disruptive bots. "This week we purged 1.7 million bots engaging in reply spam. You should start noticing improvements in the coming days. We will be focusing on DM spam next," he tweeted.

Massive Bot Purge and Future Plans

The removal of these bots marks one of the largest clean-ups since Musk took over, addressing ongoing concerns about spam and fake accounts on X. The company has not disclosed the specific methods used for detecting or removing these bots but relies heavily on automation and behavioural analysis tools.

In addition to tackling spam, X is preparing to test a new approach to link-sharing and engagement. Bier mentioned that this update aims to ensure equal visibility for all content on users' timelines, potentially leading to changes in how external links are displayed.

Upcoming Link-Sharing Feature

This announcement follows previous hints from Musk about altering the display of external links to keep users more engaged within the platform. The upcoming test may result in a redesigned layout or new algorithmic weighting for posts containing links.

Bier also highlighted a notable increase in Android downloads for X, describing it as "one of the best weeks in our history." He noted that the company is rebuilding its app from scratch and is seeking talented Android engineers for their Palo Alto team.

Record Growth and Recruitment Efforts

"X had one of the best weeks for Android downloads in our history. We're rebuilding the whole app from scratch—and we're looking for the most talented Android engineers in the world. If you're interested in rebuilding the app with me in Palo Alto, DM me," tweeted Bier.

These developments reflect X's commitment to improving user experience by addressing spam issues and enhancing platform features. By focusing on both bot removal and new functionalities, X aims to create a more engaging environment for its users.