The online network X has caused significant outrage after people used its AI chatbot Grok to change pictures of women by stripping their garments.
Multiple cases have surfaced where the system has been employed to remove clothing from female subjects to render them in swimwear without permission, as well as to place them in sexualized scenarios.
Company Reaction and Regulatory Stance
XAI, the organization behind Grok, remained silent to requests for comment, other than an auto-reply response stating "traditional news outlets lies".
A government spokesperson stated that new laws is being introduced to prohibit image stripping software. Under a upcoming law, anyone who supplied such technology would "face a prison sentence and heavy fines".
"The platform could prevent these types of abuse if they wanted to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "seem to have a lack of consequences."
Oversight Body Stance and Platform Functionality
The regulator Ofcom said platforms must "assess the risk" of people viewing illegal content on their platforms, but did not confirm whether it was presently examining X or Grok in concerning AI-generated images.
Grok is a no-cost AI assistant—with some additional functions—which responds to X users' queries when they mention it in a message.
It is frequently used to provide commentary or further background to other posters' comments, but people on X are also able to edit an uploaded photo through its artificial intelligence picture modification tool.
History of Criticism and Policy
The tool has been criticised for permitting users to create pictures and videos with nudity and sexually suggestive material, and it was in the past accused of creating graphic material of public figures.
"X has been allowing the production and spread of these images for months without taking any action and we have yet to see any intervention by regulators," Professor McGlynn added.
XAI's own acceptable use policy forbids "showing images of persons in a pornographic manner".
In a statement, Ofcom said it was against the law to "create or circulate deepfakes or illegal content" and clarified this included sexual deepfakes made with AI.
It said platforms such as X were required to take "suitable actions" to "lessen the risk" of users viewing unlawful material on their services and to remove it promptly when they are notified of it.
