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The social media network X has caused significant outrage after users used its artificial intelligence assistant Grok to change pictures of women by taking off their attire.

Multiple instances have surfaced where the technology has been used to digitally undress female subjects to make them appear in bikinis non-consensually, as well as to place them in sexually explicit scenarios.

Developer Response and Regulatory Stance

XAI, the organization behind Grok, remained silent to requests for comment, except for an standard message stating "legacy media lies".

A government representative stated that legislation is being proposed to outlaw image stripping software. Under a proposed law, anyone who provided such tools would "be subject to a jail term and substantial fines".

"The platform could prevent these forms of misuse if they wanted to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "seem to have a lack of consequences."

Regulator Stance and Tool Capabilities

The communications watchdog Ofcom said tech firms must "assess the risk" of people accessing unlawful material on their services, but did not confirm whether it was at this time looking into X or Grok in concerning artificial intelligence pictures.

Grok is a no-cost chatbot—with some paid-for functions—which responds to X users' requests when they tag it in a post.

It is commonly used to offer commentary or additional background to other posters' remarks, but people on X are also capable of edit an uploaded image through its artificial intelligence picture modification feature.

History of Criticism and Rules

The tool has been criticised for allowing users to create photos and clips with nudity and sexualised content, and it was previously accused of making inappropriate material of public figures.

"X has been allowing the production and distribution of these pictures for months without taking any measures and we have not witnessed any action by regulators," Professor McGlynn added.

XAI's own terms of service forbids "depicting likenesses of individuals in a pornographic way".

In a statement, Ofcom said it was against the law to "generate or distribute non-consensual intimate images or illegal content" and stated this included sexual deepfakes made with AI.

It said networks such as X were mandated to take "appropriate measures" to "minimize the risk" of users viewing unlawful content on their platforms and to remove it swiftly when they learn of it.