Grok, Elon Musk’s AI tool, has shut down its image generation function for most users following widespread outrage over its use to create sexually explicit and violent imagery.
The move comes after Musk was threatened with fines, regulatory action and reports of a possible ban on X in the UK.
This tool was used to manipulate images of women to remove their clothes and place them in erotic positions. The practice of doing so except to make payments to customers has been discontinued.
Posting on Musk’s social media network X, Grok said: “Image creation and editing is currently limited to paying subscribers.”
This means that the majority of users of the platform cannot create images using Grok, and those who do have their full details and credit card information stored by X, so the function can be identified if misused.
Research conducted by the Guardian revealed that it was used to make indecent videos of women without their consent, as well as create photographs of women being shot dead.
Musk is facing the threat of regulatory action from around the world after Grok was used to create non-consensual sexual imagery.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday threatened to take strict action against the social media company.
He demanded
Starmer said that communications regulator Ofcom “has our full support in taking action regarding this” He added: “This is illegal. We will not tolerate it. I have asked for all options to be put on the table. This is disgusting. X needs to get its act together and take this content down. We will take action on this because it is simply not tolerable.”
Thousands of sexually explicit images of women have been created without their consent in the past two weeks, following an update to the Grok image creation feature in late December. Musk has faced repeated public calls to remove or restrict the feature, but so far the social media app has not taken action.
X has been contacted for comment.
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