The online network X has sparked significant anger after individuals utilized its artificial intelligence assistant Grok to change pictures of women by removing their clothing.
Several cases have emerged where the technology has been used to virtually strip female subjects to make them appear in bikinis non-consensually, as well as to put them in sexually explicit scenarios.
Developer Reaction and Regulatory Stance
XAI, the organization behind Grok, did not respond to requests for comment, other than an automatically-generated message stating "traditional news outlets lies".
A Home Office representative stated that new laws is being introduced to prohibit nudification tools. Under a upcoming criminal offence, anyone who provided such technology would "be subject to a jail term and significant penalties".
"The platform has the ability to stop these forms of abuse if they desired to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "operate with a lack of consequences."
Regulator Stance and Tool Functionality
The regulator Ofcom said tech firms must "consider the danger" of people viewing illegal content on their services, but did not confirm whether it was presently examining X or Grok in concerning artificial intelligence pictures.
Grok is a no-cost AI assistant—with some paid-for functions—which responds to X users' queries when they mention it in a post.
It is commonly used to offer reactions or further context to other posters' comments, but people on X are also capable of alter an posted photo through its artificial intelligence picture modification feature.
History of Controversy and Rules
The tool has been faulted for permitting users to create images and videos with nudity and sexually suggestive material, and it was in the past alleged to have been involved in creating sexually explicit material of public figures.
"X has been enabling the creation and distribution of these images for months without taking any measures and we have yet to see any intervention by oversight bodies," the expert added.
XAI's own acceptable use policy forbids "depicting images of people in a graphic manner".
In a statement, Ofcom said it was illegal to "make or circulate deepfakes or illegal content" and confirmed this included sexual deepfakes made with AI.
It said services such as X were obligated to take "appropriate measures" to "lessen the risk" of users coming across illegal material on their services and to take down it swiftly when they learn of it.
