The online network X has caused major backlash after people used its AI chatbot Grok to alter images of women by taking off their attire.
Numerous cases have been seen where the tool has been employed to digitally undress female subjects to show them in swimwear non-consensually, as well as to put them in inappropriate scenarios.
Company Response and Regulatory Position
XAI, the organization that created Grok, did not respond to questions, other than an standard response stating "traditional news outlets lies".
A government representative stated that new laws is being proposed to prohibit image stripping software. Under a upcoming law, anyone who supplied such technology would "be subject to a jail term and substantial penalties".
"X or Grok has the ability to stop these forms of misuse if they desired to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "appear to enjoy impunity."
Oversight Body Position and Tool Functionality
The communications watchdog Ofcom said technology companies must "consider the risk" of people accessing unlawful material on their networks, but stopped short of confirming whether it was at this time investigating X or Grok in regarding artificial intelligence images.
Grok is a no-cost AI assistant—with some paid-for features—which reacts to X users' requests when they mention it in a post.
It is frequently used to give reactions or more background to other users' comments, but people on X are also able to modify an posted photo through its AI image editing tool.
Background of Criticism and Rules
The tool has been faulted for enabling users to create photos and videos with explicit content and sexualised material, and it was earlier accused of creating sexually explicit material of public figures.
"X has been enabling the generation and sharing of these images 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 terms of service bans "portraying likenesses of persons in a graphic fashion".
In a comment, Ofcom said it was unlawful to "create or circulate non-consensual intimate images or illegal content" and clarified this covered explicit AI images made with AI.
It said services such as X were required to take "necessary actions" to "reduce the danger" of users coming across illegal content on their services and to remove it promptly when they are notified of it.
