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The online network X has caused major anger after individuals employed its AI chatbot Grok to change photos of females by taking off their attire.

Numerous examples have emerged where the tool has been employed to virtually strip women to make them appear in bikinis without permission, as well as to insert them in inappropriate scenarios.

Company Reaction and Legal Stance

XAI, the firm responsible for Grok, remained silent to inquiries, aside from an auto-reply response stating "traditional news outlets lies".

A government representative stated that new laws is being introduced to ban image stripping software. Under a new law, anyone who distributed such tools would "receive a prison sentence and substantial penalties".

"X or Grok has the ability to stop these types of abuse if they wanted to," said a law professor, adding they "appear to enjoy impunity."

Regulator Stance and Tool Capabilities

The communications watchdog Ofcom said tech firms must "evaluate the potential" of people viewing illegal content on their networks, but did not confirm whether it was presently examining X or Grok in regarding AI-generated images.

Grok is a free artificial intelligence—with some additional functions—which answers X users' requests when they tag it in a post.

It is often used to offer commentary or further background to other posters' comments, but people on X are also able to modify an posted image through its artificial intelligence picture modification feature.

Background of Controversy and Rules

The system has been faulted for permitting users to create pictures and clips with nudity and sexually suggestive content, and it was in the past alleged to have been involved in making sexually explicit material of public figures.

"X has been allowing the generation and distribution of these pictures for a long time without taking any measures and we have yet to see any action by regulators," Professor McGlynn added.

XAI's own acceptable use policy bans "portraying likenesses of people in a graphic way".

In a comment, Ofcom said it was illegal to "make or circulate non-consensual intimate images or illegal content" and stated this covered explicit AI images generated with AI.

It said services such as X were obligated to take "suitable measures" to "lessen the risk" of users coming across illegal content on their services and to remove it quickly when they become aware of it.