The social media platform X has caused major outrage after users used its AI chatbot Grok to change pictures of women by taking off their clothing.
Several instances have been seen where the tool has been used to virtually strip women to show them in swimwear without permission, as well as to insert them in sexualized scenarios.
Developer Reaction and Legal Position
XAI, the organization responsible for Grok, remained silent to requests for comment, except for an automatically-generated message stating "legacy media lies".
A Home Office representative stated that legislation is being introduced to outlaw nudification software. Under a proposed law, anyone who provided such tools would "receive a jail term and heavy fines".
"X or Grok has the ability to stop these forms of misuse if they desired to," said a law professor, adding they "appear to enjoy a lack of consequences."
Oversight Body Position and Platform Capabilities
The regulator Ofcom said platforms must "consider the danger" of people accessing illegal content on their services, but stopped short of confirming whether it was presently examining X or Grok in relation to artificial intelligence pictures.
Grok is a free artificial intelligence—with some additional features—which reacts to X users' queries when they mention it in a post.
It is frequently used to provide reactions or further context to other users' remarks, but people on X are also can edit an uploaded image through its AI image editing tool.
Background of Controversy and Policy
The tool has been faulted for permitting users to produce pictures and footage with nudity and sexualised material, and it was earlier alleged to have been involved in making inappropriate material of celebrities.
"X has been permitting the generation and spread of these pictures for a long time without taking any measures and we have yet to see any action by oversight bodies," Professor McGlynn added.
XAI's own terms of service prohibits "depicting likenesses of persons in a graphic manner".
In a comment, Ofcom said it was against the law to "create or circulate deepfakes or illegal content" and stated this included sexual deepfakes made with AI.
It said platforms such as X were obligated to take "necessary measures" to "minimize the risk" of users viewing illegal content on their services and to take down it promptly when they become aware of it.
