The online network X has provoked widespread anger after individuals utilized its AI chatbot Grok to manipulate photos of females by stripping their garments.
Several cases have surfaced where the technology has been employed to digitally undress female subjects to make them appear in bikinis non-consensually, as well as to place them in sexualized scenarios.
Company Response and Legal Position
XAI, the organization behind Grok, offered no comment to inquiries, other than an standard response stating "legacy media lies".
A government representative stated that new laws is being introduced to prohibit nudification tools. Under a proposed criminal offence, anyone who distributed such tools would "be subject to a prison sentence and significant fines".
"X or Grok could prevent these types of misuse if they wanted to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "seem to have a lack of consequences."
Oversight Body Position and Tool Capabilities
The communications watchdog Ofcom said technology companies must "consider the potential" of people seeing unlawful material on their networks, but did not specify whether it was at this time examining X or Grok in concerning artificial intelligence pictures.
Grok is a no-cost artificial intelligence—with some additional functions—which reacts to X users' requests when they reference it in a post.
It is often used to offer reactions or further context to other posters' comments, but people on X are also can edit an posted photo through its AI image editing tool.
Background of Controversy and Policy
The system has been faulted for allowing users to produce images and clips with nudity and sexualised material, and it was previously alleged to have been involved in making sexually explicit content of celebrities.
"X has been allowing the production and distribution of these pictures for months without taking any measures and we have yet to see any intervention by regulators," Professor McGlynn added.
XAI's own acceptable use policy bans "showing likenesses of individuals in a sexually explicit way".
In a statement, Ofcom said it was unlawful to "create or distribute deepfakes or child sexual abuse material" and stated this covered sexual deepfakes generated with AI.
It said platforms such as X were mandated to take "necessary actions" to "minimize the danger" of users coming across illegal material on their platforms and to remove it quickly when they become aware of it.
