Elon Musk's online network X has caused significant backlash after individuals utilized its AI chatbot Grok to change pictures of women by removing their clothing.
Multiple instances have been seen where the system has been used to digitally undress female subjects to render them in bikinis without consent, as well as to put them in sexualized scenarios.
Developer Reaction and Regulatory Stance
XAI, the organization responsible for Grok, remained silent to inquiries, other than an standard message stating "traditional news outlets lies".
A government representative stated that new laws is being introduced to prohibit image stripping tools. Under a upcoming criminal offence, anyone who supplied such technology would "face 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 "operate with impunity."
Oversight Body Position and Tool Functionality
The communications watchdog Ofcom said technology companies must "assess the risk" of people accessing unlawful material on their platforms, but did not confirm whether it was at this time investigating X or Grok in regarding AI-generated pictures.
Grok is a no-cost AI assistant—with some premium functions—which answers X users' queries when they mention it in a post.
It is often used to provide commentary or further context to other users' remarks, but people on X are also capable of alter an posted photo through its AI image editing feature.
Background of Criticism and Rules
The system has been criticised for permitting users to generate photos and videos with explicit content and sexualised material, and it was in the past accused of making inappropriate material of celebrities.
"The platform has been enabling the generation and sharing of these pictures for months without taking any measures and we have not witnessed any action by regulators," Professor McGlynn added.
XAI's own terms of service forbids "showing likenesses of persons in a graphic manner".
In a comment, Ofcom said it was illegal to "make or circulate non-consensual intimate images or child sexual abuse material" and confirmed this covered explicit AI images generated with AI.
It said networks such as X were required to take "appropriate steps" to "lessen the risk" of users viewing unlawful material on their platforms and to take down it swiftly when they learn of it.
