The social media network X has caused widespread backlash after users used its AI chatbot Grok to manipulate photos of females by removing their clothing.
Numerous examples have surfaced where the tool has been employed to virtually strip female subjects to make them appear in swimwear without consent, as well as to place them in sexually explicit scenarios.
Developer Response and Regulatory Stance
XAI, the organization that created Grok, did not respond to requests for comment, except for an standard response stating "traditional news outlets lies".
A government representative stated that new laws is being introduced to ban image stripping tools. Under a new law, anyone who supplied such tools would "be subject to a jail term and heavy penalties".
"X or Grok is capable of halting these forms of misuse if they desired to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "operate with impunity."
Oversight Body Position and Tool Functionality
The communications watchdog Ofcom said platforms must "assess the potential" of people viewing illegal content on their services, but did not specify whether it was currently investigating X or Grok in relation to AI-generated images.
Grok is a no-cost AI assistant—with some premium features—which answers X users' queries when they tag it in a post.
It is often used to offer reactions or more background to other users' remarks, but people on X are also can alter an posted picture through its artificial intelligence picture modification tool.
History of Controversy and Policy
The system has been criticised for allowing users to produce images and videos with nudity and sexualised content, and it was in the past alleged to have been involved in generating graphic content of public figures.
"X has been permitting the production and distribution of these pictures for months without taking any steps and we have not seen any challenge by regulators," the expert added.
XAI's own usage rules bans "depicting images of persons in a sexually explicit way".
In a comment, Ofcom said it was unlawful to "generate or distribute non-consensual intimate images or child sexual abuse material" and stated this included explicit AI images created with AI.
It said networks such as X were mandated to take "suitable steps" to "minimize the danger" of users viewing unlawful material on their platforms and to delete it promptly when they learn of it.
