The social media network X has caused widespread backlash after users utilized its AI chatbot Grok to manipulate images of females by taking off their clothing.
Several instances have emerged where the system has been used to virtually strip women to render them in bikinis without consent, as well as to place them in sexually explicit contexts.
Company Reaction and Legal Position
XAI, the firm responsible for Grok, did not respond to inquiries, except for an standard message stating "traditional news outlets lies".
A Home Office representative stated that legislation is being introduced to prohibit image stripping tools. Under a upcoming law, anyone who supplied such tools would "be subject to a prison sentence and substantial penalties".
"X or Grok is capable of halting these types of abuse if they wanted to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "seem to have impunity."
Regulator Stance and Platform Functionality
The regulator Ofcom said platforms must "evaluate the risk" of people viewing unlawful material on their services, but did not specify whether it was at this time investigating X or Grok in concerning artificial intelligence pictures.
Grok is a no-cost AI assistant—with some paid-for functions—which responds to X users' queries when they reference it in a tweet.
It is often used to provide commentary or further background to other users' comments, but people on X are also can alter an uploaded image through its artificial intelligence picture modification feature.
Background of Controversy and Policy
The tool has been condemned for allowing users to generate photos and footage with nudity and sexualised material, and it was earlier alleged to have been involved in generating inappropriate content of celebrities.
"X has been permitting the creation and distribution of these pictures for a long time without taking any action and we have not witnessed any action by regulators," the expert added.
XAI's own acceptable use policy prohibits "showing images of persons in a graphic way".
In a statement, Ofcom said it was unlawful to "create or share non-consensual intimate images or child sexual abuse material" and stated this applied to sexual deepfakes created with AI.
It said platforms such as X were obligated to take "necessary steps" to "reduce the danger" of users coming across illegal content on their platforms and to take down it promptly when they learn of it.
