The online network X has provoked major outrage after users utilized its AI chatbot Grok to alter images of females by taking off their garments.
Multiple instances have surfaced where the technology has been used to remove clothing from women to show them in bikinis without permission, as well as to place them in sexualized scenarios.
Developer Response and Regulatory Position
XAI, the company that created Grok, remained silent to inquiries, aside from an standard message stating "traditional news outlets lies".
A Home Office representative stated that legislation is being brought forward to outlaw image stripping tools. Under a proposed criminal offence, anyone who provided such technology would "be subject to a prison sentence and significant penalties".
"X or Grok has the ability to stop these forms of misuse if they desired to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "operate with impunity."
Regulator Stance and Tool Capabilities
The communications watchdog Ofcom said tech firms must "consider the potential" of people accessing unlawful material on their platforms, but did not confirm whether it was at this time examining X or Grok in regarding artificial intelligence pictures.
Grok is a no-cost chatbot—with some additional functions—which reacts to X users' requests when they reference it in a tweet.
It is commonly used to give reactions or more background to other users' remarks, but people on X are also able to alter an posted image through its artificial intelligence picture modification tool.
Background of Criticism and Rules
The tool has been faulted for enabling users to create photos and clips with explicit content and sexualised content, and it was previously alleged to have been involved in generating graphic material of celebrities.
"The platform has been enabling the generation and distribution of these pictures for months without taking any steps and we have not seen any action by regulators," the expert added.
XAI's own acceptable use policy bans "depicting likenesses of people in a pornographic way".
In a statement, Ofcom said it was unlawful to "generate or share deepfakes or illegal content" and confirmed this included explicit AI images created with AI.
It said services such as X were mandated to take "suitable measures" to "minimize the danger" of users encountering illegal material on their platforms and to delete it promptly when they learn of it.
