The social media platform X has caused significant outrage after users employed its AI chatbot Grok to change images of females by taking off their clothing.
Multiple examples have emerged where the technology has been used to virtually strip female subjects to show them in swimwear without permission, as well as to insert them in inappropriate scenarios.
Developer Response and Legal Stance
XAI, the firm that created Grok, offered no comment to requests for comment, aside from an standard message stating "legacy media lies".
A Home Office spokesperson stated that legislation is being introduced to outlaw nudification technology. Under a upcoming criminal offence, anyone who provided such tools would "be subject to a jail term and heavy fines".
"The platform has the ability to stop these forms of misuse if they chose to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "operate with a lack of consequences."
Oversight Body Stance and Platform Capabilities
The regulator Ofcom said platforms must "assess the potential" of people viewing illegal content on their platforms, but stopped short of confirming whether it was currently investigating X or Grok in relation to AI-generated images.
Grok is a free chatbot—with some paid-for features—which reacts to X users' requests when they mention it in a message.
It is commonly used to offer reactions or additional context to other posters' comments, but people on X are also capable of edit an uploaded picture through its AI image editing feature.
History of Controversy and Rules
The system has been criticised for permitting users to create photos and videos with nudity and sexualised content, and it was previously accused of generating inappropriate material of celebrities.
"X has been allowing the generation and distribution of these images for a long time without taking any action and we have not witnessed any intervention by regulators," Professor McGlynn added.
XAI's own acceptable use policy forbids "portraying likenesses of individuals in a graphic way".
In a statement, Ofcom said it was illegal to "make or share private pictures or child sexual abuse material" and clarified this included explicit AI images created with AI.
It said platforms such as X were mandated to take "necessary steps" to "lessen the risk" of users coming across unlawful content on their services and to delete it promptly when they become aware of it.
