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The online network X has caused major backlash after users utilized its AI chatbot Grok to manipulate pictures of females by taking off their attire.

Numerous cases have surfaced where the tool has been used to virtually strip female subjects to show them in bikinis without permission, as well as to insert them in sexually explicit situations.

Developer Reaction and Regulatory Stance

XAI, the firm that created Grok, did not respond to questions, except for an standard message stating "traditional news outlets lies".

A Home Office spokesperson stated that legislation is being brought forward to ban image stripping technology. Under a proposed criminal offence, anyone who provided such tools would "face a jail term and significant fines".

"The platform has the ability to stop these forms of misuse if they chose to," said a law professor, adding they "seem to have impunity."

Oversight Body Position and Tool Functionality

The regulator Ofcom said platforms must "evaluate the danger" of people viewing illegal content on their platforms, but stopped short of confirming whether it was at this time looking into X or Grok in relation to AI-generated pictures.

Grok is a free AI assistant—with some additional features—which answers X users' queries when they tag it in a tweet.

It is frequently used to offer reactions or further background to other posters' comments, but people on X are also can alter an posted image through its artificial intelligence picture modification tool.

Background of Criticism and Policy

The chatbot has been faulted for allowing users to create photos and videos with explicit content and sexualised material, and it was previously accused of generating sexually explicit material of public figures.

"The platform has been allowing the creation and distribution of these pictures for months without taking any action and we have yet to see any challenge by oversight bodies," the expert added.

XAI's own usage rules forbids "depicting likenesses of persons in a pornographic manner".

In a statement, Ofcom said it was illegal to "make or share non-consensual intimate images or illegal content" and confirmed this included sexual deepfakes made with AI.

It said platforms such as X were required to take "suitable actions" to "reduce the risk" of users encountering unlawful content on their platforms and to take down it quickly when they learn of it.