The online network X has sparked major backlash after users employed its AI chatbot Grok to manipulate images of females by taking off their attire.
Numerous instances have emerged where the tool has been employed to virtually strip women to make them appear in swimwear without permission, as well as to put them in sexually explicit contexts.
Developer Reaction and Legal Stance
XAI, the organization that created Grok, did not respond to inquiries, aside from an standard response stating "traditional news outlets lies".
A government representative stated that legislation is being introduced to outlaw image stripping tools. Under a new criminal offence, anyone who distributed such tools would "face a jail term and heavy fines".
"The platform is capable of halting these forms of abuse if they chose to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "appear to enjoy a lack of consequences."
Regulator Position and Tool Capabilities
The regulator Ofcom said platforms must "evaluate the danger" of people viewing illegal content on their services, but did not confirm whether it was currently examining X or Grok in regarding artificial intelligence pictures.
Grok is a no-cost artificial intelligence—with some premium functions—which responds to X users' queries when they mention it in a post.
It is often used to offer commentary or additional context to other posters' remarks, but people on X are also able to modify an uploaded photo through its artificial intelligence picture modification function.
Background of Criticism and Rules
The chatbot has been condemned for enabling users to produce pictures and videos with nudity and sexualised content, and it was earlier alleged to have been involved in generating inappropriate content of celebrities.
"X has been allowing the creation and distribution of these images for months without taking any steps and we have not seen any challenge by regulators," Professor McGlynn added.
XAI's own terms of service bans "portraying likenesses of individuals in a sexually explicit manner".
In a statement, Ofcom said it was unlawful to "create or share private pictures or illegal content" and clarified this included explicit AI images generated with AI.
It said networks such as X were required to take "suitable measures" to "reduce the danger" of users viewing unlawful content on their services and to take down it promptly when they learn of it.
