The social media network X has caused widespread outrage after users used its artificial intelligence assistant Grok to alter photos of women by stripping their clothing.
Multiple instances have surfaced where the technology has been employed to virtually strip female subjects to render them in swimwear without permission, as well as to insert them in inappropriate scenarios.
Company Reaction and Legal Position
XAI, the organization behind Grok, did not respond to requests for comment, other than an standard response stating "traditional news outlets lies".
A government spokesperson stated that new laws is being brought forward to ban nudification technology. Under a proposed criminal offence, anyone who supplied such tools would "be subject to a prison sentence and significant fines".
"X or Grok has the ability to stop these forms of abuse if they desired to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "appear to enjoy a lack of consequences."
Regulator Stance and Platform Functionality
The regulator Ofcom said tech firms must "evaluate the potential" 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 artificial intelligence images.
Grok is a no-cost artificial intelligence—with some paid-for functions—which answers X users' queries when they tag it in a message.
It is often used to offer reactions or further context to other posters' remarks, but people on X are also can edit an uploaded photo through its artificial intelligence picture modification feature.
Background of Controversy and Policy
The chatbot has been faulted for allowing users to generate images and videos with nudity and sexually suggestive material, and it was earlier accused of making inappropriate content of celebrities.
"X has been allowing the generation and sharing of these images for months without taking any steps and we have not witnessed any intervention by regulators," the expert added.
XAI's own acceptable use policy bans "portraying likenesses of persons in a sexually explicit manner".
In a statement, Ofcom said it was unlawful to "make or distribute non-consensual intimate images or child sexual abuse material" and stated this covered sexual deepfakes created with AI.
It said services such as X were obligated to take "appropriate measures" to "reduce the risk" of users coming across illegal material on their platforms and to delete it swiftly when they learn of it.
