Elon Musk's online platform X has caused significant outrage after people utilized its AI chatbot Grok to manipulate photos of women by taking off their attire.
Multiple instances have emerged where the tool has been employed to digitally undress women to show them in bikinis without consent, as well as to insert them in sexually explicit situations.
Developer Reaction and Regulatory Stance
XAI, the organization responsible for Grok, offered no comment to questions, other than an standard response stating "traditional news outlets lies".
A government representative stated that legislation is being introduced to outlaw nudification tools. Under a upcoming criminal offence, anyone who supplied such tools would "face a prison sentence and heavy penalties".
"The platform has the ability to stop these forms of misuse if they desired to," said a law professor, adding they "operate with impunity."
Oversight Body Stance and Platform Capabilities
The communications watchdog Ofcom said tech firms must "evaluate the potential" of people accessing illegal content on their services, but did not specify whether it was at this time examining X or Grok in concerning artificial intelligence pictures.
Grok is a free AI assistant—with some additional functions—which reacts to X users' requests when they tag it in a message.
It is frequently used to offer commentary or further background to other posters' remarks, but people on X are also capable of modify an posted picture through its artificial intelligence picture modification feature.
History of Controversy and Rules
The tool has been condemned for permitting users to create photos and footage with nudity and sexually suggestive content, and it was previously alleged to have been involved in making inappropriate content of celebrities.
"The platform has been permitting the creation and distribution of these pictures for months without taking any measures and we have not seen any challenge by oversight bodies," Professor McGlynn added.
XAI's own acceptable use policy bans "showing likenesses of people in a graphic manner".
In a statement, Ofcom said it was unlawful to "create or circulate non-consensual intimate images or child sexual abuse material" and confirmed this covered sexual deepfakes created with AI.
It said services such as X were obligated to take "appropriate measures" to "lessen the risk" of users encountering illegal content on their services and to remove it swiftly when they are notified of it.
