The online network X has caused significant anger after individuals used its AI chatbot Grok to alter pictures of women by taking off their attire.
Multiple instances have emerged where the technology has been used to virtually strip female subjects to show them in bikinis without consent, as well as to insert them in sexualized situations.
Developer Response and Regulatory Stance
XAI, the firm behind Grok, did not respond to requests for comment, except for an automatically-generated message stating "legacy media lies".
A Home Office representative stated that new laws is being proposed to outlaw image stripping software. Under a new law, anyone who distributed such technology would "be subject to a prison sentence and significant fines".
"X or Grok has the ability to stop these types of misuse if they wanted to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "seem to have a lack of consequences."
Oversight Body Stance and Platform Capabilities
The regulator Ofcom said tech firms must "evaluate the potential" of people viewing illegal content on their platforms, but did not specify whether it was currently examining X or Grok in relation to artificial intelligence pictures.
Grok is a free AI assistant—with some additional features—which responds to X users' prompts when they tag it in a message.
It is often used to give commentary or further context to other posters' comments, but people on X are also can modify an posted image through its artificial intelligence picture modification feature.
Background of Criticism and Policy
The chatbot has been faulted for allowing users to create photos and videos with nudity and sexually suggestive content, and it was earlier alleged to have been involved in making inappropriate content of public figures.
"X has been permitting the creation and sharing of these pictures for months without taking any steps and we have yet to see any action by oversight bodies," Professor McGlynn added.
XAI's own acceptable use policy prohibits "showing likenesses of individuals in a graphic manner".
In a comment, Ofcom said it was illegal to "create or distribute non-consensual intimate images or child sexual abuse material" and confirmed this applied to sexual deepfakes generated with AI.
It said platforms such as X were mandated to take "appropriate steps" to "minimize the risk" of users viewing illegal content on their platforms and to take down it quickly when they are notified of it.
