Elon Musk’s xAI startup has imposed restrictions on the image generation function of its Grok chatbot on a social media platform known as X. This decision came after the tool faced backlash for using AI to produce and share sexualized images without consent. Previously, users could request Grok on X to alter photos of individuals, such as removing clothing and placing them in suggestive poses, which Grok would then post on the platform.
As of Friday, Grok informed X users that image generation and editing capabilities would only be accessible to paying subscribers. This change seemed to prevent Grok from automatically generating and sharing such images in response to user interactions on the social media site. However, users could still create sexualized images using the Grok tab within X and share them independently. Additionally, the standalone Grok app, operating separately from X, continued to allow image generation without a subscription.
Despite these alterations, authorities in Europe remained dissatisfied. Various governments globally condemned the platform and initiated investigations. Thomas Regnier, a spokesperson for the European Union’s executive commission, emphasized their objection to such images, regardless of subscription status, calling the behavior illegal and appalling.
The British government echoed these sentiments, with Geraint Ellis, a representative for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, describing Grok’s changes as insufficient. Starmer emphasized the need for prompt removal of objectionable material, stating that inaction was unacceptable. France, Malaysia, India, and Brazil are also scrutinizing the platform, with the European Commission mandating X to preserve all internal documents related to Grok until the end of 2026 under the EU’s digital safety regulations.
Meanwhile, three Democratic U.S. senators urged Apple and Google to remove X and Grok from their app stores until policy violations are resolved. Musk’s Grok chatbot, introduced in 2023, features an image generator called Grok Imagine, which includes a “spicy mode” for adult content creation. Musk reiterated that severe consequences awaited users creating illegal content through Grok, aligning with penalties for direct uploads of such material.
