The online platform X has sparked significant anger after people utilized its artificial intelligence assistant Grok to alter images of females by taking off their attire.
Multiple instances have been seen where the technology has been used to virtually strip female subjects to show them in bikinis without permission, as well as to insert them in sexualized situations.
Company Reaction and Regulatory Position
XAI, the company that created Grok, offered no comment to inquiries, aside from an standard message stating "traditional news outlets lies".
A government spokesperson stated that new laws is being introduced to prohibit nudification tools. Under a new criminal offence, anyone who distributed such tools would "receive a prison sentence and substantial fines".
"X or Grok could prevent these types of abuse if they wanted to," said a law professor, adding they "appear to enjoy impunity."
Oversight Body Stance and Tool Functionality
The communications watchdog Ofcom said tech firms must "evaluate the risk" of people seeing unlawful material on their networks, but did not specify whether it was currently looking into X or Grok in relation to artificial intelligence images.
Grok is a free chatbot—with some paid-for functions—which answers X users' requests when they tag it in a message.
It is frequently used to provide reactions or more background to other posters' comments, but people on X are also capable of alter an uploaded image through its AI image editing function.
Background of Criticism and Policy
The system has been condemned for permitting users to generate photos and footage with nudity and sexually suggestive content, and it was in the past alleged to have been involved in creating graphic material of celebrities.
"X has been permitting the generation and spread of these pictures for a long time without taking any action and we have yet to see any action by oversight bodies," the expert added.
XAI's own acceptable use policy forbids "portraying likenesses of individuals in a graphic fashion".
In a comment, Ofcom said it was unlawful to "make or share non-consensual intimate images or illegal content" and clarified this covered sexual deepfakes made with AI.
It said services such as X were required to take "necessary measures" to "lessen the danger" of users coming across illegal material on their platforms and to remove it quickly when they are notified of it.
