Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup xAI has imposed new restrictions on the image-generation features of its Grok chatbot on social media platform X, following widespread backlash over the creation and sharing of sexualized images, reports Reuters.
Previously, users were able to ask Grok directly on X to edit photos of people—sometimes removing clothing or placing individuals in sexualized poses—often without their consent. The chatbot would then automatically publish those images in replies on the platform.
On Friday, Grok informed users that its image generation and editing tools are now available only to paying subscribers of X. The move appears to have stopped the bot from automatically generating and publishing such images in response to public posts or comments.
However, users can still generate sexualized images through the Grok tab, where they interact directly with the chatbot, and then post the images to X themselves. The standalone Grok app, which operates independently of the social media platform, also continues to allow image generation without a subscription.
xAI did not provide a substantive response to requests for comment from Reuters, replying instead with what appeared to be an automated message reading, “Legacy Media Lies.” X did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Musk said last week that anyone who uses Grok to create illegal content would face the same consequences as those who upload such material directly to X.
On Friday, a Reuters reporter asked Grok on X to edit a photo of himself to depict him wearing a bikini, echoing a request that had become common among users in recent days. The bot declined, responding that the image-generation tool was limited to paying subscribers.
The European Commission, which has described images of undressed women and children circulating on X as unlawful and “appalling,” said the new restrictions fail to address its concerns.
“Limiting image generation and editing to paying subscribers does not change our fundamental issue,” a Commission spokesperson said. “Whether paid or unpaid, we do not want to see such images.”
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
