Elon Musk has announced that X (formerly Twitter) will open-source its recommendation algorithm within the next seven days, exposing the code that determines how posts and ads are ranked across the platform. The release will cover both organic content in the “For You” feed and paid advertising systems.
According to Musk, the open-source repository will be updated every four weeks and include developer notes explaining changes to the algorithm over time. The goal, he said, is to provide greater transparency into how X surfaces content and optimizes for user engagement.
The announcement comes as X faces mounting regulatory pressure, particularly in Europe. Under the European Union’s Digital Services Act, large platforms are required to provide more visibility into how algorithms amplify content and manage risk. Regulators in France have also requested detailed information on potential bias and manipulation within X’s recommendation systems.
Emmanuel Umahi
Concerns haven't been limited to Europe, though. Authorities in countries including Indonesia have raised questions about X’s AI tools, particularly those powered by Grok, and how automated systems influence content distribution and user safety. An open-source release could give regulators, researchers, and independent auditors direct insight into how those systems operate.
This isn't X’s first attempt at algorithmic transparency. In 2023, Twitter published parts of its “For You” feed code on GitHub, and xAI has previously shared early versions of the Grok model. However, those releases were limited in scope and weren't maintained with regular updates.
This time, Musk is positioning the effort as ongoing rather than symbolic. Regular updates and documentation are intended to make changes to the recommendation system easier to track and understand, rather than offering a one-off snapshot.
Ogbonda Chivumnovu
X hasn't yet shared technical details about how the code will be structured or licensed, nor has it given an exact time for the initial release beyond the stated seven-day window. The company says further information will be published alongside the first drop.
If the rollout proceeds as described, it would mark a significant shift in how social platforms approach transparency. Instead of asking users and regulators to trust opaque systems, X would be placing its core ranking logic in public view, inviting scrutiny in a way few large platforms have been willing to do.
Whether that openness leads to greater trust, deeper criticism, or both will likely depend on what the code actually reveals.
