The online network X has caused major outrage after users utilized its AI chatbot Grok to alter pictures of females by stripping their attire.
Several instances have surfaced where the technology has been used to digitally undress female subjects to make them appear in swimwear without consent, as well as to place them in sexualized scenarios.
Developer Reaction and Legal Stance
XAI, the company responsible for Grok, did not respond to requests for comment, aside from an auto-reply message stating "traditional news outlets lies".
A government spokesperson stated that legislation is being introduced to ban image stripping tools. Under a upcoming criminal offence, anyone who distributed such tools would "be subject to a jail term and substantial fines".
"The platform could prevent these forms of misuse if they chose to," said a law professor, adding they "operate with impunity."
Oversight Body Position and Platform Capabilities
The regulator Ofcom said tech firms must "evaluate the risk" of people accessing illegal content on their networks, but did not specify whether it was at this time investigating X or Grok in concerning artificial intelligence images.
Grok is a no-cost artificial intelligence—with some additional features—which answers X users' queries when they mention it in a tweet.
It is frequently used to give reactions or further context to other users' remarks, but people on X are also able to alter an posted photo through its AI image editing function.
Background of Criticism and Rules
The chatbot has been faulted for enabling users to create pictures and videos with nudity and sexually suggestive content, and it was in the past alleged to have been involved in creating sexually explicit content of public figures.
"The platform has been permitting the creation and spread of these pictures for a long time without taking any action and we have not witnessed any action by oversight bodies," Professor McGlynn added.
XAI's own terms of service prohibits "showing likenesses of persons in a pornographic way".
In a comment, Ofcom said it was against the law to "generate or share non-consensual intimate images or illegal content" and clarified this covered sexual deepfakes generated with AI.
It said services such as X were mandated to take "suitable actions" to "lessen the risk" of users viewing illegal content on their platforms and to remove it quickly when they learn of it.
