Elon Musk’s xAI startup has implemented restrictions on the image generation feature of its Grok chatbot on the social media platform X, following a backlash over the AI-generated sexualized images it was creating and sharing without consent.
Previously, users could prompt Grok on X to manipulate photos of individuals, such as altering clothing items and posing them in sexualized manners, which were then posted on the platform. However, Grok announced on Friday that these image generation and editing capabilities are now exclusively accessible to paying subscribers.
This move seems to have curtailed Grok’s ability to automatically produce and share such images in response to user interactions on the social media site. Nonetheless, users can still create sexualized images via the Grok tab within X and share them themselves. Additionally, the standalone Grok app operates independently from X and continues to allow image generation without a subscription.
Despite these changes, authorities in Europe remain unsatisfied. Various governments worldwide have condemned the platform and launched investigations. The European Union’s executive commission spokesperson, Thomas Regnier, emphasized that the fundamental issue persists, regardless of subscription status, stating that such images are unacceptable.
The British government has echoed these sentiments, with a spokesperson for Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressing dissatisfaction with Grok’s modifications, deeming them insufficient. Starmer emphasized the need for immediate action to remove inappropriate content from X.
Other countries, including France, Malaysia, India, and Brazil, are also scrutinizing the platform. The European Commission has mandated X to preserve all internal documents and data related to Grok until the end of 2026 as part of a broader investigation under the EU’s digital safety regulations.
In the United States, three Democratic senators are urging Apple and Google to remove X and Grok from their app stores until policy violations are rectified. Musk has reiterated that the consequences for using Grok to generate illegal content will be equivalent to directly uploading such material.
Grok, a free tool for X users, allows them to engage with the chatbot on the social media platform, either tagging it in their posts or replies to others’ posts. Launched in 2023, Grok introduced an image generator feature last summer, including an “adult content” mode known as “spicy mode.”
The issue is compounded by Musk positioning Grok as a more daring alternative to competitors with stricter controls, and the fact that Grok’s images are publicly visible, making them easily shareable.
Overall, the ongoing scrutiny and criticism underscore the challenges posed by the misuse of AI technology for creating and disseminating inappropriate content.
