Now restricting what Grok can do, xAI blocks creation or editing of intimate pictures involving actual individuals on X. This follows heavy backlash, scrutiny from officials, and probes in various nations over recent weeks. Changes arrive quietly but mark a shift under growing heat.
By late Wednesday, xAI made it clear: Grok won’t let anyone generate or alter pictures showing actual people in suggestive outfits or sexual situations. This change affects everyone using the tool – yes, even those paying for extra features through X.
Stopping edits on pictures of real people in swimwear like bikinis is now enforced by tech tools, xAI mentioned in a note posted via the X Safety profile. These rules apply to everyone, no matter their access level, the team clarified.
Fear among officials had been growing, especially across the U.S., when the news broke. Not long before, Rob Bonta – the state’s attorney general – shared details about a probe targeting xAI, citing massive creation of fake explicit pictures without consent. Based right in Silicon Valley, the company falls squarely within California’s reach.
Out of nowhere, California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, stepped into the conversation with some of his sharpest words yet. Posting on X, he pointed at xAI’s tools as turning spaces online into traps where predators thrive. One example stood out – fake nude images made using artificial intelligence, even showing kids stripped bare through digital tricks. His message hit hard: what’s happening is disgusting, beyond tolerable limits.
Far from just a U.S. issue, this debate has spread overseas. Lately, authorities in India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Ireland, the UK, France, Australia, and the European Commission have launched investigations. While some stay cautious, Indonesia and Malaysia moved fast – slapping short-term bans on Grok due to fears of abuse.
Folks who study tech impacts say Grok lets people turn everyday pictures from X into disturbing scenes just by typing basic requests. Safety advocates raise alarms, pointing out these features might fuel harmful acts – especially aimed at young people and women – including threats or unwanted exposure. These risks come up again and again when open systems lack strong checks.
Ahead of safety concerns, three Democratic senators are pushing Apple and Google to take down the X and Grok apps. Until better protections exist, access should be blocked. The worry? Tools that might generate explicit material without consent. Removal is being asked for – at least until risks are reduced. Pressure builds as questions grow about how these platforms handle harmful outputs.
Now only paying users can create or edit images using Grok on X, following new updates from xAI. This shift likely makes oversight easier. Access has been restricted as part of broader adjustments. The feature once open is under tighter limits today.
A sudden change in approach follows Musk’s recent public prompt asking users to test Grok’s image filters. Hours earlier, he had invited scrutiny by urging people to push its boundaries around explicit visuals. His explanation? When mature content settings are turned on, the system permits slight nudity – but strictly fictional forms, never actual individuals. Think movie-style depictions, like those seen in films rated for adults. Rules aren’t fixed globally; they adapt where regional laws demand it. Decisions shift based on national standards, not a single global rulebook.
Still, even though xAI just made a big move meant to ease worldwide worries, some watchdogs insist close watching must go on – especially now that AI-made material is getting stronger and easier for anyone to reach.
