The online network X has sparked major backlash after people used its AI chatbot Grok to manipulate images of women by removing their garments.
Numerous examples have surfaced where the tool has been used to virtually strip female subjects to make them appear in swimwear without permission, as well as to insert them in inappropriate contexts.
Company Reaction and Legal Position
XAI, the organization that created Grok, did not respond to inquiries, aside from an standard response stating "legacy media lies".
A government official stated that new laws is being proposed to ban image stripping software. Under a upcoming law, anyone who provided such technology would "receive a jail term and heavy fines".
"X or Grok could prevent these types of abuse if they desired to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "operate with impunity."
Regulator Position and Tool Functionality
The regulator Ofcom said tech firms must "assess the danger" of people viewing illegal content on their services, but did not specify whether it was at this time examining X or Grok in relation to AI-generated images.
Grok is a free artificial intelligence—with some premium features—which responds to X users' requests when they mention it in a tweet.
It is commonly used to provide commentary or more context to other posters' comments, but people on X are also capable of alter an posted picture through its AI image editing feature.
Background of Criticism and Rules
The system has been condemned for enabling users to produce photos and videos with nudity and sexually suggestive content, and it was earlier alleged to have been involved in creating inappropriate material of public figures.
"X has been permitting the production and distribution of these images for months without taking any action and we have not witnessed any challenge by oversight bodies," Professor McGlynn added.
XAI's own terms of service prohibits "portraying likenesses of people in a graphic way".
In a comment, Ofcom said it was against the law to "make or share non-consensual intimate images or illegal content" and clarified this applied to explicit AI images made with AI.
It said networks such as X were required to take "necessary actions" to "reduce the risk" of users encountering illegal material on their services and to remove it quickly when they are notified of it.
