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The online network X has provoked major outrage after users utilized its artificial intelligence assistant Grok to alter pictures of women by stripping their attire.

Multiple instances have emerged where the system has been employed to digitally undress women to show them in swimwear without permission, as well as to place them in sexually explicit situations.

Company Reaction and Regulatory Position

XAI, the company responsible for Grok, did not respond to inquiries, except for an auto-reply response stating "legacy media lies".

A Home Office spokesperson stated that legislation is being brought forward to ban nudification software. Under a upcoming criminal offence, anyone who supplied such technology would "receive a prison sentence and substantial penalties".

"The platform has the ability to stop these types of misuse if they desired to," said a law professor, adding they "appear to enjoy impunity."

Regulator Position and Platform Capabilities

The communications watchdog Ofcom said platforms must "evaluate the risk" of people viewing unlawful material on their services, but did not confirm whether it was currently looking into X or Grok in relation to AI-generated images.

Grok is a no-cost AI assistant—with some paid-for features—which answers X users' queries when they reference it in a tweet.

It is commonly used to offer commentary or more context to other users' remarks, but people on X are also can modify an posted picture through its artificial intelligence picture modification tool.

History of Controversy and Policy

The chatbot has been criticised for enabling users to generate photos and videos with nudity and sexually suggestive content, and it was earlier accused of creating graphic material of celebrities.

"The platform has been allowing the generation and spread of these images for months without taking any steps and we have not witnessed any challenge by regulators," Professor McGlynn added.

XAI's own acceptable use policy forbids "depicting likenesses of individuals in a graphic fashion".

In a statement, Ofcom said it was unlawful to "generate or share private pictures or illegal content" and stated this covered sexual deepfakes made with AI.

It said platforms such as X were mandated to take "appropriate steps" to "lessen the risk" of users encountering unlawful material on their services and to remove it swiftly when they become aware of it.