The online network X has caused major backlash after people employed its AI chatbot Grok to alter pictures of women by taking off their clothing.
Numerous cases have surfaced where the system has been used to virtually strip women to render them in swimwear without permission, as well as to place them in sexualized scenarios.
Developer Reaction and Regulatory Position
XAI, the organization that created Grok, did not respond to requests for comment, other than an standard message stating "traditional news outlets lies".
A government representative stated that legislation is being brought forward to outlaw image stripping tools. Under a upcoming law, anyone who provided such technology would "face a jail term and significant penalties".
"The platform could prevent these forms of misuse if they chose to," said a law professor, adding they "operate with a lack of consequences."
Regulator Stance and Tool Functionality
The regulator Ofcom said platforms must "assess the danger" of people accessing illegal content on their platforms, but did not confirm whether it was at this time looking into X or Grok in concerning artificial intelligence images.
Grok is a no-cost artificial intelligence—with some additional functions—which reacts to X users' prompts when they reference it in a message.
It is commonly used to give commentary or further background to other posters' comments, but people on X are also capable of edit an posted image through its AI image editing function.
Background of Criticism and Rules
The chatbot has been criticised for permitting users to generate photos and videos with nudity and sexually suggestive material, and it was in the past accused of generating inappropriate content of public figures.
"X has been enabling the generation and distribution of these pictures for months without taking any steps and we have not witnessed any challenge by oversight bodies," the expert added.
XAI's own terms of service prohibits "showing images of individuals in a pornographic manner".
In a comment, Ofcom said it was unlawful to "make or distribute non-consensual intimate images or child sexual abuse material" and stated this applied to explicit AI images made with AI.
It said platforms such as X were mandated to take "necessary measures" to "minimize the risk" of users coming across illegal content on their platforms and to take down it quickly when they become aware of it.
