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The online platform X has sparked major outrage after users employed its AI chatbot Grok to alter pictures of women by removing their attire.

Numerous instances have been seen where the system has been used to remove clothing from female subjects to make them appear in bikinis non-consensually, as well as to insert them in inappropriate situations.

Company Response and Regulatory Position

XAI, the firm responsible for Grok, did not respond to requests for comment, other than an automatically-generated message stating "traditional news outlets lies".

A government official stated that new laws is being introduced to prohibit image stripping software. Under a new criminal offence, anyone who supplied such technology would "be subject to a prison sentence and heavy penalties".

"The platform is capable of halting these types of misuse if they desired to," said a law professor, adding they "appear to enjoy a lack of consequences."

Regulator Position and Tool Capabilities

The communications watchdog Ofcom said platforms must "consider the potential" of people accessing illegal content on their platforms, but did not confirm whether it was currently looking into X or Grok in concerning artificial intelligence images.

Grok is a no-cost chatbot—with some additional functions—which answers X users' prompts when they mention it in a tweet.

It is frequently used to give reactions or additional background to other posters' remarks, but people on X are also capable of alter an uploaded image through its artificial intelligence picture modification tool.

History of Controversy and Rules

The tool has been condemned for enabling users to generate photos and clips with nudity and sexually suggestive material, and it was previously accused of generating inappropriate material of celebrities.

"The platform has been permitting the production and sharing of these pictures for months without taking any steps and we have yet to see any challenge by regulators," Professor McGlynn added.

XAI's own terms of service prohibits "showing images of persons in a graphic way".

In a comment, Ofcom said it was against the law to "create or circulate non-consensual intimate images or illegal content" and confirmed this included sexual deepfakes made with AI.

It said networks such as X were obligated to take "necessary steps" to "reduce the danger" of users viewing illegal material on their platforms and to delete it quickly when they become aware of it.