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The online network X has provoked major outrage after individuals utilized its artificial intelligence assistant Grok to manipulate images of females by taking off their attire.

Numerous instances have been seen where the technology has been used to remove clothing from female subjects to make them appear in bikinis without consent, as well as to place them in sexually explicit contexts.

Developer Reaction and Legal Stance

XAI, the organization behind Grok, did not respond to requests for comment, other than an standard response stating "traditional news outlets lies".

A government official stated that new laws is being brought forward to prohibit image stripping tools. Under a proposed criminal offence, anyone who provided such tools would "face a prison sentence and substantial fines".

"X or Grok could prevent these types of abuse if they chose to," said Clare McGlynn, adding they "appear to enjoy impunity."

Oversight Body Position and Platform Functionality

The regulator Ofcom said technology companies must "assess the danger" of people accessing unlawful material on their services, but did not specify whether it was currently examining X or Grok in regarding AI-generated images.

Grok is a free artificial intelligence—with some premium functions—which answers X users' requests when they mention it in a tweet.

It is often used to offer reactions or more context to other posters' remarks, but people on X are also capable of modify an posted image through its AI image editing tool.

Background of Controversy and Rules

The system has been criticised for enabling users to generate images and footage with nudity and sexually suggestive content, and it was in the past alleged to have been involved in making sexually explicit content of celebrities.

"The platform has been enabling the generation and distribution of these pictures for months without taking any action and we have not witnessed any action by oversight bodies," Professor McGlynn added.

XAI's own terms of service forbids "portraying images of individuals in a pornographic fashion".

In a comment, Ofcom said it was against the law to "generate or share deepfakes or child sexual abuse material" and confirmed this applied to explicit AI images made with AI.

It said platforms such as X were mandated to take "suitable steps" to "lessen the danger" of users coming across illegal content on their services and to remove it quickly when they learn of it.