Meta taps anti-diversity activist Robby Starbuck as AI advisor in legal settlement

Conservative commentator Robby Starbuck has been appointed as an advisor for Meta, tasked with addressing concerns over "ideological and political bias" within the company's AI chatbot, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. This appointment is part of a settlement agreement between Meta and Starbuck, who had filed a lawsuit after Meta AI incorrectly associated him with the January 6th Capitol riot.
Starbuck has led public campaigns against corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, which he credits with prompting companies such as Tractor Supply, John Deere, and Harley-Davidson to scale back their DEI programs. The lawsuit, filed in April, states that Starbuck learned of the AI's misinformation when a Harley-Davidson dealer shared a screenshot from Meta's chatbot falsely linking him to both the Capitol riot and the QAnon conspiracy theory.
In the wake of a presidential executive order aimed at reducing perceived "woke" bias in AI, Starbuck will now counsel Meta on these issues. Meta and Starbuck issued a joint statement to the WSJ, saying, "Since engaging with Robby on these critical matters, Meta has made significant progress in enhancing the accuracy of Meta AI and reducing ideological and political bias."
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In a CNBC interview, Starbuck would not disclose whether he received a financial settlement from Meta. He stated, "I'm just one individual, but this issue could create significant challenges for the entire industry, especially concerning elections and political bias. We aimed to take a leading role in finding a solution." Earlier this year, Meta settled a separate 2021 lawsuit filed by former President Donald Trump regarding account suspensions for $25 million.
Other individuals have also pursued legal action over alleged AI defamation. In 2023, conservative radio host Mark Walters sued OpenAI, claiming its ChatGPT model falsely accused him of misappropriating funds from a non-profit. A judge later ruled in favor of OpenAI, dismissing the defamation claim in May.
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Conservative commentator Robby Starbuck has been appointed as an advisor for Meta, tasked with addressing concerns over "ideological and political bias" within the company's AI chatbot, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. This appointment is part of a settlement agreement between Meta and Starbuck, who had filed a lawsuit after Meta AI incorrectly associated him with the January 6th Capitol riot.
Starbuck has led public campaigns against corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, which he credits with prompting companies such as Tractor Supply, John Deere, and Harley-Davidson to scale back their DEI programs. The lawsuit, filed in April, states that Starbuck learned of the AI's misinformation when a Harley-Davidson dealer shared a screenshot from Meta's chatbot falsely linking him to both the Capitol riot and the QAnon conspiracy theory.
In the wake of a presidential executive order aimed at reducing perceived "woke" bias in AI, Starbuck will now counsel Meta on these issues. Meta and Starbuck issued a joint statement to the WSJ, saying, "Since engaging with Robby on these critical matters, Meta has made significant progress in enhancing the accuracy of Meta AI and reducing ideological and political bias."
Related
- White House directs tech firms to reintroduce bias into AI systems
- Analyzing Trump's major policy shift benefiting the AI sector
In a CNBC interview, Starbuck would not disclose whether he received a financial settlement from Meta. He stated, "I'm just one individual, but this issue could create significant challenges for the entire industry, especially concerning elections and political bias. We aimed to take a leading role in finding a solution." Earlier this year, Meta settled a separate 2021 lawsuit filed by former President Donald Trump regarding account suspensions for $25 million.
Other individuals have also pursued legal action over alleged AI defamation. In 2023, conservative radio host Mark Walters sued OpenAI, claiming its ChatGPT model falsely accused him of misappropriating funds from a non-profit. A judge later ruled in favor of OpenAI, dismissing the defamation claim in May.
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