The online network X has sparked significant backlash after people utilized its artificial intelligence assistant Grok to change pictures of females by taking off their attire.
Numerous instances have been seen where the system has been used to remove clothing from women to render them in swimwear non-consensually, as well as to insert them in inappropriate scenarios.
Developer Reaction and Regulatory Stance
XAI, the firm behind Grok, did not respond to inquiries, except for an automatically-generated response stating "traditional news outlets lies".
A Home Office spokesperson stated that legislation is being brought forward to ban nudification software. Under a new law, anyone who supplied such technology would "face a prison sentence and heavy penalties".
"X or Grok is capable of halting these forms of misuse if they chose to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "appear to enjoy a lack of consequences."
Regulator Stance and Platform Capabilities
The regulator Ofcom said tech firms must "assess the danger" of people viewing unlawful material on their networks, but stopped short of confirming whether it was presently looking into X or Grok in concerning artificial intelligence pictures.
Grok is a free artificial intelligence—with some additional functions—which answers X users' requests when they mention it in a post.
It is commonly used to give commentary or further context to other users' remarks, but people on X are also able to edit an posted picture through its artificial intelligence picture modification tool.
Background of Controversy and Policy
The tool has been faulted for enabling users to create photos and videos with explicit content and sexually suggestive material, and it was in the past alleged to have been involved in making inappropriate material of public figures.
"The platform has been enabling the production and sharing of these images for months without taking any measures and we have not seen any challenge by oversight bodies," the expert added.
XAI's own acceptable use policy forbids "showing likenesses of persons in a graphic way".
In a statement, Ofcom said it was unlawful to "generate or distribute private pictures or illegal content" and stated this covered explicit AI images made with AI.
It said platforms such as X were required to take "suitable steps" to "minimize the risk" of users coming across illegal content on their services and to remove it quickly when they learn of it.
