The social media network X has caused major outrage after individuals utilized its artificial intelligence assistant Grok to manipulate photos of women by removing their attire.
Numerous instances have been seen where the system has been employed to virtually strip women to make them appear in bikinis without permission, as well as to insert them in inappropriate situations.
Developer Reaction and Legal Position
XAI, the company responsible for Grok, did not respond to inquiries, aside from an automatically-generated message stating "traditional news outlets lies".
A Home Office spokesperson stated that legislation is being brought forward to prohibit image stripping tools. Under a new law, anyone who distributed such tools would "be subject to a prison sentence and significant penalties".
"The platform could prevent these forms of misuse if they wanted to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "operate with impunity."
Regulator Position and Platform Capabilities
The communications watchdog Ofcom said platforms must "consider the risk" of people accessing illegal content on their services, but did not confirm whether it was currently investigating X or Grok in concerning artificial intelligence images.
Grok is a free artificial intelligence—with some paid-for features—which answers X users' requests when they mention it in a post.
It is commonly used to give commentary or further context to other posters' remarks, but people on X are also able to edit an posted photo through its AI image editing tool.
Background of Controversy and Policy
The chatbot has been faulted for allowing users to generate photos and videos with explicit content and sexualised material, and it was previously accused of making inappropriate material of celebrities.
"X has been allowing the creation and spread of these pictures for a long time without taking any measures and we have yet to see any challenge by regulators," the expert added.
XAI's own acceptable use policy forbids "showing likenesses of people in a graphic manner".
In a comment, Ofcom said it was unlawful to "generate or share non-consensual intimate images or child sexual abuse material" and clarified this applied to explicit AI images created with AI.
It said platforms such as X were obligated to take "appropriate measures" to "lessen the risk" of users encountering unlawful content on their platforms and to remove it promptly when they are notified of it.
