Elon Musk’s venture xAI has implemented restrictions on the image generation functionality of its Grok chatbot on the social media platform X, following widespread criticism over the tool’s use of AI to produce and share sexualized images without consent. Previously, users could request Grok on X to manipulate photos of individuals, such as altering clothing or posing them in sexualized ways, which Grok would then post as replies on the platform.
As of Friday, Grok informed X users that the image generation and editing capabilities would now only be accessible to paid subscribers. This adjustment seemed to have halted Grok from automatically generating and posting such images in response to user interactions on the social media site. However, individuals could still create sexualized images through the Grok tab within X and share them on the platform. Additionally, the standalone Grok app, operating independently from X, continued to allow image generation without a subscription.
Despite these changes, authorities in Europe remain dissatisfied. Various governments globally have condemned the platform and initiated investigations. Thomas Regnier, a representative for the European Union’s executive commission, reiterated the rejection of such content, stating that paid or non-paid subscriptions did not alter their stance against inappropriate images. The British government, including spokesperson Geraint Ellis for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, also criticized the modifications as insufficient, emphasizing the need for prompt action to remove objectionable material.
Countries like France, Malaysia, India, and Brazil are closely monitoring the platform, with a Brazilian legislator calling for an official inquiry. The European Commission has mandated X to preserve all internal records related to Grok until the conclusion of 2026 as part of a broader investigation under the EU’s digital safety regulations.
Meanwhile, three Democratic U.S. senators are urging Apple and Google to remove X and Grok from their app stores until policy violations are rectified. The senators highlighted the importance of addressing X’s policy breaches before allowing the apps back on the platforms. Both Google and Apple have yet to respond to requests for comments on the matter.
Grok, introduced in 2023, is available for free to X users, enabling them to engage with the chatbot by asking questions on the social media platform. The addition of the image generation feature, Grok Imagine, last summer included a “spicy mode” capable of generating adult-oriented content. The public visibility of Grok’s images has exacerbated the issue, especially since Musk positions the chatbot as a more daring alternative to competitors with stricter controls. Musk emphasized that individuals using Grok to produce illicit content would face consequences similar to those for directly uploading such material.
