# Study finds Grok 4.7 and GPT-6.1 Sol show strong political biases

Digest AI · Research · published 2026-10-24T15:00:00Z

Canonical: https://digestai.news/story/study-finds-grok-4-7-and-gpt-6-1-sol-show-strong-political-biases

## Summary

A new study by Convovo, led by Cornell professor Tapan Parikh, reveals significant political biases in major AI models when forced to recommend candidates for the upcoming US midterm elections. The researchers tested SpaceXAI’s Grok 4.7 and OpenAI’s GPT-6.1 Sol via their APIs across nearly 500 races. Grok 4.7 recommended the Republican candidate in 92% of answers, while GPT-6.1 Sol picked the Democrat in 97%. The two models agreed on a recommendation less than 10% of the time.

The study highlights a distinction between consumer apps, which generally refuse to make direct voting recommendations, and developer APIs, which can be prompted to choose. Parikh noted that Grok’s bias appears driven by its search patterns, frequently citing conservative sources like Turning Point Action and X, while GPT relied on Wikipedia, the Associated Press, and Reddit. When internet search was disabled, GPT maintained its Democratic lean, suggesting the bias is embedded in its training weights, whereas Grok’s Republican preference disappeared, indicating it relied on external information retrieval.

OpenAI stated that ChatGPT is designed to be objective and that the API results do not reflect the standard consumer experience. SpaceXAI did not respond to requests for comment. The findings arrive less than two weeks before the November 3 midterms, adding to ongoing debates about AI neutrality and political influence. Pew Research indicates that only 8% of Americans currently use chatbots for election information.

## Key points

- Grok 4.7 picked Republicans in 92% of tests; GPT-6.1 Sol picked Democrats in 97%.
- Models agreed on a candidate in less than 10% of nearly 500 tested races.
- Disabling search removed Grok's bias but not GPT's, suggesting different bias sources.

## Why it matters

As AI becomes a common source for political information, hidden biases in model outputs or search patterns could subtly influence voter perception. The study distinguishes between training data bias and retrieval bias, offering insights into how AI systems form political stances.

## Sources

1. [Forced to pick, Grok’s AI model chooses Republicans. OpenAI’s picks Democrats.](https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/24/forced-to-pick-groks-ai-model-chooses-republicans-openais-picks-democrats) (TechCrunch AI, 2026-10-24)

## Cite

Digest AI, "Study finds Grok 4.7 and GPT-6.1 Sol show strong political biases", 24 October 2026, https://digestai.news/story/study-finds-grok-4-7-and-gpt-6-1-sol-show-strong-political-biases

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