X is limiting the image generation and editing capabilities of Grok, the social media company’s AI chatbot, following intense criticism over utilizers’ utilize of the chatbot to create and distribute sexualized images of people — predominantly women — without their consent.
On Friday, Grok notified utilizers that its image generation and editing features on X would be limited to paying subscribers.
Access to the chatbot’s features alterd after utilizers discovered they could prompt Grok directly on X to alter photos of real people by rerelocating clothes or placing individuals in sexualized poses. Grok would then automatically post the altered images publicly in replies to utilizer comments.
The controversy has drawn scrutiny from regulators in the European Union, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, India and France, all of which have sought explanations from X and xAI, Elon Musk’s artificial company, regarding Grok’s safeguards.
Meanwhile in the United States Sens. Ron Wyden (D-R) Ben Ray Luján (N-MX) and Ed Markey (D-MS) sent a letter to Apple and Google on Friday urging them to rerelocate X and Grok from their app stores. The senators argued that allowing the apps to remain available would contradict the companies’ claims that their platforms provide safer utilizer experiences.
“Turning a blind eye to X’s egregious behavior would build a mockery of your moderation practices,” they wrote.
“Indeed, not taking action would undermine your claims in public and in court that your app stores offer a safer utilizer experience than letting utilizers download apps directly to their phones.”
Musk acknowledged the controversy last week, warning that anyone utilizing Grok to produce illegal material would face the same consequences as those who upload unlawful content directly. X’s safety team reiterated that illegal content is rerelocated and responsible accounts are permanently suspfinished.
European regulators declared X’s latest relocate falls short of addressing their concerns.
“Restricting image generation to paid subscribers does not alter our fundamental concern,” a spokesperson for the European Commission declared. “Whether paid or unpaid, we do not want to see such images.”
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