Overview

• Meta settled a defamation suit filed by conservative activist Robby Starbuck after its AI chatbot repeatedly and falsely linked him to the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.
• As part of the agreement, Starbuck will serve as an adviser to help Meta identify and mitigate ideological and political bias in its AI systems over the coming months.
• A joint statement from Meta and Starbuck asserts that the company has already made “tremendous strides” in improving AI accuracy and reducing hallucinations.
• Meta has refused to disclose any financial terms of the settlement, prompting criticism from transparency advocates and experts.
• Critics question Starbuck’s lack of technical credentials and his anti-DEI activism, and they emphasize the need for clear metrics to assess the neutrality and impact of his guidance.