Concerns Raised Over AI Tool Grok's Use for Non-Consensual Image Editing on X
Samantha Smith, a freelance journalist, reported that the AI tool Grok was used to digitally remove her clothes, which left her feeling dehumanised and reduced to a sexual stereotype. Investigations by the BBC found multiple examples on the social platform X of prompts instructing Grok to undress women and place them in sexual scenarios without their consent, using the AI assistant for image editing.
Grok is a free AI assistant available on X, with some paid features, capable of reacting to posts and editing uploaded images. It has been criticised for enabling nudity and sexualised content and was previously accused of creating a sexually explicit clip involving Taylor Swift. Despite these concerns, XAI, the developer behind Grok, did not provide a comment beyond an auto-reply alleging legacy media lies.
The Home Office said the government is working on legislation to ban nudification tools, with a new criminal offence planned that would punish suppliers of such technology with prison terms and fines. Similarly, Ofcom emphasised that technology companies operating in the UK must assess the risk of illegal content, including non-consensual intimate images and child sexual abuse material — including AI deepfakes — and must promptly remove such material. However, Ofcom has not confirmed whether it is investigating X or Grok specifically.
Clare McGlynn, a law professor at Durham University, stated that the platform could prevent such abuses if it wanted to but appears to enjoy impunity, noting that regulators have yet to take significant action against it.
