Every website online is currently attempting to integrate an AI-powered chatbot onto its homepage, a trend that even extends to 8kun—the far-right image board platform notorious for hosting a toxic environment filled with immoral and depraved content.
Jim Watkins, the creator of 8kun, which emerged from the remnants of 8chan after it was banned by web hosting providers in 2019, announced the launch of the site’s new AI chatbot on X. Watkins introduced the “8kun AI” as an ongoing development available for testing to a select group of users, emphasizing responsible usage to avoid malfunctions during the AI’s training phase, expected to span approximately a year.
In a subsequent update, Watkins mentioned that the chatbot’s training involves analyzing the current content on 8kun, a process projected to last a year for completion.
On the chatbot’s display page on 8kun, a notice specifies that only “Proto members” have access to test the chatbot, excluding other users like myself from exploring its functionality.
Screenshot: 8kun
Ron Watkins, Jim’s son, shared his thoughts on the chatbot on X, expressing optimism about its performance compared to Grok, Elon Musk’s chatbot, while suggesting a need for more knowledge on current events.
However, it appears that the 8kun chatbot’s responses often lack coherence, with interactions displaying disjointed and unrelated text rather than meaningful answers. Users have reported receiving convoluted responses that veer off-topic, such as a peculiar reply to a query about a fictional fight between Howard the Duck and Batman.
The chatbot’s responses also include inaccurate information, like attributing JFK’s assassination to a “CIA agent” named “Robert Kennedy Jr.” and providing nonsensical legal code references when asked about its dreams.
Despite Watkins’ claim that the chatbot is primarily trained on 8kun’s content, evidence suggests it may be drawing from external sources. Instances of responses resembling transcripts from Democracy Now, a left-leaning news program hosted by Amy Goodman, raise doubts about the chatbot’s training data authenticity.
Furthermore, Watkins mentioned that the chatbot includes various versions of the Bible in its reading material, emphasizing that the AI’s output is independent of his influence, as it learns from 8kun content and public domain texts to construct responses over a year-long learning period.
In a cautionary statement, Watkins advised against seeking medical or any form of advice from the AI, highlighting the chatbot’s current limitations in providing coherent or reliable information. Users are advised to approach interactions with the 8kun AI cautiously, considering its tendency to generate incoherent responses sourced from the depths of the internet.
