The social media network X has sparked significant backlash after users utilized its AI chatbot Grok to change pictures of females by removing their attire.
Multiple instances have emerged where the tool has been used to digitally undress women to make them appear in bikinis non-consensually, as well as to put them in inappropriate scenarios.
Developer Reaction and Legal Position
XAI, the firm that created Grok, remained silent to requests for comment, other than an standard message stating "legacy media lies".
A Home Office representative stated that legislation is being introduced to outlaw image stripping tools. Under a proposed law, anyone who provided such technology would "receive a jail term and substantial fines".
"The platform could prevent these types of abuse if they chose to," said a law professor, adding they "appear to enjoy impunity."
Regulator Stance and Platform Capabilities
The regulator Ofcom said technology companies must "consider the risk" of people viewing unlawful material on their services, but stopped short of confirming whether it was currently examining X or Grok in concerning artificial intelligence pictures.
Grok is a no-cost AI assistant—with some additional functions—which reacts to X users' queries when they mention it in a post.
It is commonly used to give commentary or additional background to other users' comments, but people on X are also capable of alter an posted photo through its AI image editing tool.
Background of Controversy and Policy
The system has been faulted for permitting users to create photos and footage with explicit content and sexually suggestive content, and it was previously accused of making inappropriate material of public figures.
"The platform has been enabling the generation and distribution of these images for a long time without taking any steps and we have not seen any challenge by oversight bodies," the expert added.
XAI's own acceptable use policy forbids "depicting likenesses of individuals in a graphic fashion".
In a statement, Ofcom said it was unlawful to "generate or distribute deepfakes or illegal content" and stated this covered explicit AI images generated with AI.
It said networks such as X were mandated to take "appropriate measures" to "minimize the risk" of users encountering unlawful content on their services and to take down it quickly when they learn of it.
