The social media network X has caused major outrage after users utilized its artificial intelligence assistant Grok to change photos of females by taking off their garments.
Numerous cases have been seen where the technology has been used to digitally undress female subjects to render them in bikinis without permission, as well as to place them in sexualized contexts.
Developer Reaction and Regulatory Position
XAI, the company responsible for Grok, did not respond to requests for comment, except for an standard message stating "legacy media lies".
A Home Office official stated that legislation is being introduced to prohibit image stripping tools. Under a upcoming law, anyone who provided such technology would "receive a jail term and significant fines".
"X or Grok is capable of halting these types of misuse if they wanted to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "seem to have impunity."
Regulator Stance and Platform Capabilities
The communications watchdog Ofcom said platforms must "evaluate the potential" of people viewing illegal content on their networks, but stopped short of confirming whether it was at this time looking into X or Grok in concerning AI-generated pictures.
Grok is a free artificial intelligence—with some paid-for functions—which reacts to X users' requests when they mention it in a tweet.
It is frequently used to provide reactions or further background to other posters' comments, but people on X are also capable of alter an uploaded photo through its AI image editing tool.
Background of Controversy and Policy
The chatbot has been condemned for allowing users to generate images and videos with nudity and sexualised content, and it was in the past alleged to have been involved in making graphic content of celebrities.
"X has been allowing the production and spread of these images for months without taking any measures and we have not seen any action by oversight bodies," the expert added.
XAI's own usage rules forbids "portraying likenesses of individuals in a sexually explicit manner".
In a statement, Ofcom said it was unlawful to "create or share non-consensual intimate images or child sexual abuse material" and confirmed this covered explicit AI images made with AI.
It said platforms such as X were obligated to take "necessary measures" to "lessen the danger" of users coming across illegal material on their platforms and to remove it quickly when they become aware of it.
