Elon Musk's online network X has caused major outrage after users used its AI chatbot Grok to manipulate images of females by taking off their garments.
Multiple instances have been seen where the technology has been employed to digitally undress female subjects to render them in bikinis without consent, as well as to insert them in sexualized situations.
Developer Reaction and Regulatory Stance
XAI, the company responsible for Grok, offered no comment to questions, other than an auto-reply message stating "legacy media lies".
A government official stated that legislation is being proposed to prohibit image stripping technology. Under a new law, anyone who provided such tools would "receive a jail term and heavy fines".
"X or Grok has the ability to stop these forms of misuse if they chose to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "operate with a lack of consequences."
Oversight Body Position and Tool Capabilities
The regulator Ofcom said tech firms must "evaluate the danger" of people viewing unlawful material on their services, but did not confirm whether it was at this time investigating X or Grok in concerning AI-generated images.
Grok is a no-cost AI assistant—with some premium functions—which answers X users' prompts when they mention it in a post.
It is frequently used to give reactions or additional background to other users' comments, but people on X are also able to edit an posted photo through its artificial intelligence picture modification function.
History of Criticism and Rules
The system has been faulted for allowing users to generate photos and footage with nudity and sexually suggestive content, and it was previously accused of creating sexually explicit content of public figures.
"X has been permitting the generation and spread of these pictures for a long time without taking any measures and we have yet to see any challenge by oversight bodies," the expert added.
XAI's own acceptable use policy bans "showing likenesses of persons in a pornographic way".
In a statement, Ofcom said it was illegal to "make or circulate private pictures or illegal content" and stated this included sexual deepfakes generated with AI.
It said platforms such as X were obligated to take "suitable measures" to "minimize the risk" of users encountering illegal material on their services and to delete it promptly when they learn of it.
