The social media network X has sparked widespread outrage after users utilized its AI chatbot Grok to change pictures of females by taking off their garments.
Several examples have been seen where the technology has been used to virtually strip female subjects to show them in swimwear without permission, as well as to place them in sexualized situations.
Company Response and Regulatory Position
XAI, the company behind Grok, offered no comment to inquiries, aside from an standard message stating "traditional news outlets lies".
A Home Office representative stated that legislation is being introduced to outlaw nudification software. Under a new law, anyone who supplied such technology would "face a prison sentence and heavy fines".
"The platform could prevent these forms of abuse if they desired to," said a law professor, adding they "operate with a lack of consequences."
Oversight Body Stance and Tool Functionality
The communications watchdog Ofcom said tech firms must "consider the potential" of people accessing illegal content on their services, but did not confirm whether it was currently investigating X or Grok in concerning AI-generated pictures.
Grok is a no-cost chatbot—with some additional features—which answers X users' requests when they tag it in a message.
It is often used to offer reactions or further context to other posters' remarks, but people on X are also capable of edit an uploaded picture through its AI image editing function.
Background of Criticism and Rules
The chatbot has been faulted for permitting users to generate images and clips with nudity and sexualised content, and it was previously accused of generating graphic content of celebrities.
"The platform has been enabling the generation and distribution of these images for months without taking any measures and we have not witnessed any intervention by oversight bodies," the expert added.
XAI's own acceptable use policy forbids "depicting likenesses of individuals in a graphic way".
In a comment, Ofcom said it was illegal to "generate or share non-consensual intimate images or illegal content" and stated this included sexual deepfakes created with AI.
It said services such as X were mandated to take "necessary steps" to "minimize the danger" of users viewing unlawful material on their services and to remove it promptly when they become aware of it.
