The online network X has sparked significant backlash after individuals utilized its AI chatbot Grok to alter images of females by taking off their garments.
Numerous instances have been seen where the tool has been employed to remove clothing from female subjects to render them in swimwear non-consensually, as well as to insert them in sexually explicit scenarios.
Company Reaction and Legal Stance
XAI, the organization behind Grok, remained silent to questions, aside from an auto-reply message stating "traditional news outlets lies".
A government spokesperson stated that new laws is being introduced to outlaw image stripping software. Under a proposed criminal offence, anyone who supplied such technology would "be subject to a prison sentence and substantial fines".
"X or Grok has the ability to stop these types of misuse if they chose to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "seem to have a lack of consequences."
Regulator Position and Platform Functionality
The regulator Ofcom said technology companies must "assess the risk" of people accessing illegal content on their services, but did not specify whether it was at this time investigating X or Grok in concerning AI-generated pictures.
Grok is a no-cost AI assistant—with some paid-for functions—which reacts to X users' requests when they reference it in a tweet.
It is frequently used to provide reactions or additional background to other posters' remarks, but people on X are also capable of edit an posted photo through its artificial intelligence picture modification function.
History of Criticism and Policy
The system has been criticised for permitting users to create images and clips with explicit content and sexualised material, and it was in the past alleged to have been involved in generating inappropriate material of celebrities.
"X has been enabling the generation and sharing of these pictures for a long time without taking any measures and we have not seen any challenge by oversight bodies," the expert added.
XAI's own acceptable use policy forbids "depicting images of persons in a pornographic fashion".
In a comment, Ofcom said it was unlawful to "create or share non-consensual intimate images or illegal content" and stated this included explicit AI images generated with AI.
It said platforms such as X were mandated to take "suitable actions" to "minimize the danger" of users viewing illegal content on their platforms and to take down it quickly when they become aware of it.
