Elon Musk’s AI startup xAI has restricted the image generation feature of its Grok chatbot on the social media platform X, making it available only to paying subscribers.
Grok’s image editing and generation feature had allowed users to alter photos or create new images, including sexually suggestive pictures. An investigation by Reuters found that the tool was used to generate images of women and even children wearing minimal clothing, often without their consent. The situation quickly drew public outrage and political attention.
As large numbers of semi-nude images began circulating on X, European lawmakers called for legal action. Germany’s media minister Wolfram Weimer described the trend as the “industrialisation of sexual harassment,” while the European Commission said such content was illegal under EU law.
On Friday, Grok informed users on X that image generation and editing features were now limited to paid subscribers only. However, the standalone Grok app, which operates separately from X, continues to allow users to generate images without a subscription.
A Reuters journalist tested the change by asking Grok on X to alter his photo to show him wearing a bikini, a request that had become common among users in recent days. The chatbot refused and responded that the feature was restricted to paying users.
When Reuters contacted xAI for comment, the company sent an automated email response saying “Legacy Media Lies.” X itself did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The European Commission said the circulation of such images on X was unlawful and deeply concerning. Meanwhile, Britain’s data protection regulator confirmed it had asked X to explain how it is complying with privacy laws after reports that Grok was generating sexually abusive images of women.
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Musk stated last week that users who create illegal content using Grok would face the same consequences as if they had uploaded such material directly to the platform.
