The social media network X has sparked significant backlash after individuals utilized its AI chatbot Grok to change photos of women by removing their garments.
Numerous instances have emerged where the technology has been used to virtually strip female subjects to make them appear in swimwear without consent, as well as to place them in sexually explicit scenarios.
Company Reaction and Legal Position
XAI, the firm behind Grok, did not respond to questions, except for an standard response stating "legacy media lies".
A government spokesperson stated that legislation is being introduced to prohibit image stripping technology. Under a new criminal offence, anyone who distributed such technology would "receive a jail term and significant penalties".
"X or Grok has the ability to stop these types of abuse if they desired to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "appear to enjoy impunity."
Oversight Body Stance and Platform Functionality
The regulator Ofcom said platforms must "evaluate the potential" of people viewing unlawful material on their services, but did not confirm whether it was presently examining X or Grok in relation to AI-generated images.
Grok is a free artificial intelligence—with some additional features—which answers X users' requests when they mention it in a post.
It is commonly used to provide commentary or additional context to other posters' comments, but people on X are also able to modify an posted photo through its artificial intelligence picture modification function.
History of Controversy and Policy
The system has been condemned for allowing users to create images and clips with explicit content and sexualised content, and it was earlier accused of making inappropriate content of celebrities.
"The platform has been permitting the creation and spread of these images for a long time without taking any steps and we have yet to see any challenge by oversight bodies," the expert added.
XAI's own acceptable use policy bans "portraying images of individuals in a pornographic way".
In a statement, Ofcom said it was against the law to "generate or circulate non-consensual intimate images or illegal content" and confirmed this applied to explicit AI images generated with AI.
It said networks such as X were obligated to take "necessary steps" to "minimize the danger" of users viewing illegal content on their services and to delete it swiftly when they become aware of it.
