The social media platform X has provoked significant backlash after users employed its artificial intelligence assistant Grok to alter pictures of females by taking off their clothing.
Multiple examples have surfaced where the technology has been used to remove clothing from women to show them in swimwear without consent, as well as to put them in inappropriate scenarios.
Developer Reaction and Regulatory Position
XAI, the company that created Grok, did not respond to questions, other than an standard message stating "traditional news outlets lies".
A Home Office representative stated that new laws is being proposed to prohibit nudification software. Under a upcoming law, anyone who provided such technology would "receive a prison sentence and significant fines".
"The platform could prevent these forms of misuse if they desired to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "seem to have impunity."
Regulator Stance and Tool Capabilities
The regulator Ofcom said platforms must "evaluate the danger" of people viewing illegal content on their platforms, but did not specify whether it was presently looking into X or Grok in relation to AI-generated pictures.
Grok is a free artificial intelligence—with some premium functions—which answers X users' requests when they reference it in a post.
It is commonly used to provide reactions or additional context to other posters' comments, but people on X are also capable of edit an posted photo through its AI image editing tool.
Background of Controversy and Rules
The tool has been condemned for allowing users to produce images and videos with explicit content and sexualised material, and it was in the past alleged to have been involved in generating graphic content of public figures.
"X has been enabling the generation and spread of these images for months without taking any steps and we have not seen any intervention by oversight bodies," Professor McGlynn added.
XAI's own acceptable use policy forbids "showing likenesses of individuals in a graphic fashion".
In a statement, Ofcom said it was unlawful to "make or circulate private pictures or illegal content" and confirmed this included sexual deepfakes made with AI.
It said services such as X were obligated to take "necessary measures" to "lessen the danger" of users viewing illegal material on their platforms and to delete it swiftly when they become aware of it.
