Musk’s Grok chatbot restricts image generation after global backlash to sexualised deepfakes

Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok has restricted image generation and editing after global backlash over sexualised deepfakes. Governments and regulators in several countries have raised concerns, while Britain warned of action against X over the issue

London: Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok is preventing most users from generating or editing images after a global backlash erupted over it producing sexualised deepfakes of people.

The chatbot, which is accessed through Musk’s social media platform X, has in the past few weeks been granting what researchers say were malicious user requests to modify images, including placing women in bikinis or in sexually explicit positions.

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Researchers have warned that in a few cases, some images appeared to depict children. Governments around the world have condemned the platform and opened investigations.

On Friday, Grok responded to image-altering requests with the message: “Image generation and editing are currently limited to paying subscribers. You can subscribe to unlock these features.” While subscriber numbers for Grok are not publicly available, there was a noticeable decline in the number of explicit deepfakes the chatbot was generating compared with days earlier.

The European Union has slammed Grok for “illegal” and “appalling” behaviour, while officials in France, India, Malaysia and a Brazilian lawmaker have called for investigations.

On Thursday, Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer threatened unspecified action against X.

“This is disgraceful. It’s disgusting. And it’s not to be tolerated,” Starmer said on Greatest Hits radio. “X has got to get a grip of this.”

He said media regulator Ofcom “has our full support to take action” and that “all options” are on the table.

“It’s disgusting. X needs to get its act together and get this material down. We will take action on this because it’s simply not tolerable.”

Ofcom and Britain’s privacy regulator both said this week they have contacted X and Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI for information on measures taken to comply with British regulations.

Grok is free to use for X users, who can ask it questions on the social media platform. Users can either tag it in posts they have directly created or in replies to posts from other users.

Grok launched in 2023. Last summer, the company added an image generator feature, Grok Imagine, which included a so-called “spicy mode” that can generate adult content.

The problem is amplified because Musk pitches his chatbot as an edgier alternative to rivals with more safeguards, and because Grok’s images are publicly visible and can be easily spread.