Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence chatbot Grok has triggered widespread condemnation after reports emerged that the tool was used to generate sexualised images of women and minors on the social media platform X.
The controversy erupted after Grok introduced an “edit image” function in late December, allowing users to alter photos uploaded to X. According to multiple reports, some individuals exploited the feature to digitally strip clothing from women and, in several disturbing cases, children.
Julie Yukari, a musician based in Rio de Janeiro, described her shock when edited images of her body began circulating online after users requested Grok to modify her clothing. “I was naive,” she told Reuters, explaining she had not expected the AI to comply with such requests.
The scandal has prompted immediate responses from regulators. French ministers have referred the matter to prosecutors, labelling the content “clearly illegal” under European law. Officials warned that Grok’s actions may breach the EU’s Digital Services Act, which requires platforms to prevent harmful and unlawful material.
xAI, the company behind Grok and led by Elon Musk, acknowledged “lapses in safeguards” and said it was urgently working to fix the flaws. In a statement posted on X, the firm stressed: “CSAM (Child Sexual Abuse Material) is illegal and prohibited”.
However, critics argue that the company’s reactive stance highlights deeper issues with Musk’s approach to AI development, which has often emphasised fewer restrictions compared to rivals such as OpenAIBloomberg.
The backlash has been swift. Advocacy groups have condemned the incident as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by unregulated AI tools. CNBC reported that xAI initially responded to media queries with an autoreply stating “Legacy Media Lies,” further fuelling criticism of its handling of the crisis.
The incident also underscores growing concerns about the proliferation of AI image-generation platforms since 2022. While such tools have been praised for creative applications, experts warn they can easily be misused to produce harmful content.
Governments in Europe and North America are now expected to intensify scrutiny of AI systems, particularly those integrated into major social networks.
For X, formerly Twitter, the scandal adds to ongoing challenges in moderating content under Musk’s ownership. The platform has already faced criticism for loosening moderation policies, and the Grok controversy risks further damaging its reputation among users and regulators alike.
As investigations continue, the case highlights urgent questions about accountability in AI development. With regulators poised to act, Musk’s xAI may face significant legal and reputational consequences unless it can demonstrate stronger safeguards against abuse.
Sources: Malay Mail, Arabian Business, Bloomberg
