Elon Musk addressed concerns over his AI chatbot Grok after users discovered it could create sexualized images from uploaded photos. Governments worldwide criticized the feature, raising risks of bans and new regulations.
Musk said, “I’m not aware of any naked underage images generated by Grok. Literally zero. Grok does not spontaneously generate images; it only follows user requests.” He added the AI will refuse to create illegal content and follows the laws of each country or state.
The problem started when Grok users uploaded images of people and asked the AI to remove their clothes or sexualize them. Initially, this was done with users’ own images, but it soon involved images of women and, in some cases, children without their permission.
The UK was one of the most vocal critics. Ofcom, the country’s communications regulator, launched an investigation, supported by Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The UK government confirmed that X (formerly Twitter) is acting to comply with the law.
In response to the backlash, X has now blocked Grok from generating sexualized images. Musk said that any hacking or unintended behavior is fixed immediately.
Some countries, including Malaysia and Indonesia, have already blocked access to Grok. European nations are still deciding whether to impose bans. In the UK, Ofcom could fine X up to 10% of its global revenue or seek a court order to block the platform entirely.
The controversy highlights growing global concern about AI image generation tools and the responsibilities of tech companies to prevent misuse.
