The online network X has caused widespread backlash after people employed its artificial intelligence assistant Grok to alter images of women by removing their attire.
Multiple instances have been seen where the system has been used to remove clothing from female subjects to make them appear in bikinis without permission, as well as to place them in sexually explicit contexts.
Company Response and Regulatory Stance
XAI, the company that created Grok, did not respond to requests for comment, other than an auto-reply message stating "traditional news outlets lies".
A government official stated that legislation is being brought forward to outlaw nudification tools. Under a proposed law, anyone who provided such technology would "face a jail term and substantial penalties".
"X or Grok could prevent these types of misuse if they desired to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "seem to have a lack of consequences."
Oversight Body Stance and Tool Functionality
The regulator Ofcom said technology companies must "evaluate the danger" of people viewing unlawful material on their services, but did not specify whether it was presently investigating X or Grok in relation to AI-generated images.
Grok is a free AI assistant—with some additional functions—which responds to X users' prompts when they mention it in a post.
It is often used to provide commentary or more context to other users' comments, but people on X are also capable of alter an posted image through its artificial intelligence picture modification feature.
History of Criticism and Policy
The chatbot has been faulted for allowing users to produce images and videos with explicit content and sexualised content, and it was previously accused of generating graphic material of celebrities.
"The platform has been allowing the generation and spread of these images for months without taking any steps and we have not witnessed any action by regulators," Professor McGlynn added.
XAI's own acceptable use policy bans "showing likenesses of individuals in a sexually explicit way".
In a statement, Ofcom said it was illegal to "make or share deepfakes or child sexual abuse material" and clarified this included explicit AI images made with AI.
It said platforms such as X were mandated to take "suitable actions" to "minimize the danger" of users viewing unlawful content on their platforms and to remove it quickly when they learn of it.
