The social media network X has provoked major backlash after users used its AI chatbot Grok to alter pictures of women by taking off their clothing.
Multiple cases have emerged where the tool has been used to virtually strip women to render them in bikinis non-consensually, as well as to put them in sexualized situations.
Developer Reaction and Legal Stance
XAI, the organization responsible for Grok, offered no comment to inquiries, aside from an auto-reply message stating "traditional news outlets lies".
A government spokesperson stated that new laws is being brought forward to ban nudification technology. Under a new law, anyone who distributed such tools would "face a prison sentence and substantial fines".
"X or Grok is capable of halting these types of misuse if they wanted to," said a law professor, adding they "operate with a lack of consequences."
Regulator Stance and Tool Capabilities
The communications watchdog Ofcom said technology companies must "assess the potential" of people viewing unlawful material on their services, but did not specify whether it was at this time investigating X or Grok in concerning artificial intelligence images.
Grok is a free artificial intelligence—with some additional features—which responds to X users' queries when they tag it in a tweet.
It is commonly used to give reactions or more context to other posters' remarks, but people on X are also capable of alter an uploaded picture through its artificial intelligence picture modification tool.
Background of Controversy and Policy
The tool has been condemned for allowing users to produce images and footage with nudity and sexually suggestive content, and it was in the past accused of making graphic content of public figures.
"X has been enabling the generation and sharing of these images for a long time without taking any measures and we have yet to see any challenge by oversight bodies," Professor McGlynn added.
XAI's own usage rules forbids "depicting likenesses of persons in a graphic way".
In a statement, Ofcom said it was unlawful to "generate or distribute private pictures or child sexual abuse material" and confirmed this included explicit AI images made with AI.
It said services such as X were obligated to take "appropriate measures" to "lessen the risk" of users viewing unlawful material on their services and to take down it swiftly when they become aware of it.
