The online network X has sparked significant outrage after people utilized its artificial intelligence assistant Grok to manipulate pictures of females by removing their attire.
Numerous cases have been seen where the tool has been used to digitally undress female subjects to make them appear in bikinis non-consensually, as well as to place them in sexualized situations.
Developer Response and Legal Stance
XAI, the company behind Grok, remained silent to questions, except for an automatically-generated response stating "traditional news outlets lies".
A government representative stated that new laws is being proposed to prohibit image stripping software. Under a proposed law, anyone who provided such tools would "receive a jail term and substantial fines".
"X or Grok is capable of halting these forms of abuse if they desired to," said a law professor, adding they "appear to enjoy impunity."
Oversight Body Stance and Tool Capabilities
The communications watchdog Ofcom said tech firms must "evaluate the danger" of people viewing unlawful material on their services, but did not confirm whether it was currently investigating X or Grok in relation to AI-generated images.
Grok is a free chatbot—with some additional functions—which responds to X users' queries when they mention it in a post.
It is frequently used to provide reactions or further context to other users' comments, but people on X are also capable of alter an uploaded image through its AI image editing feature.
History of Controversy and Rules
The system has been faulted for permitting users to create pictures and footage with nudity and sexually suggestive content, and it was in the past accused of making inappropriate material of celebrities.
"X has been allowing the creation and spread of these pictures for a long time without taking any action and we have yet to see any challenge by oversight bodies," the expert added.
XAI's own usage rules forbids "showing images of individuals in a sexually explicit way".
In a comment, Ofcom said it was unlawful to "make or circulate non-consensual intimate images or illegal content" and stated this applied to explicit AI images generated with AI.
It said services such as X were obligated to take "suitable measures" to "lessen the danger" of users encountering illegal content on their services and to take down it promptly when they learn of it.
