Elon Musk’s AI start up xAI (X.AI) has restricted the use of AI service Grok’s image generation features to paying subscribers after a growing outcry over its use for sexualized deepfakes of women and children.
“Image generation and editing are currently limited to paying subscribers. You can subscribe to unlock these features,” said a post on Grok’s account on X.
“Legacy Media Lies,” said xAI in an email to Seeking Alpha when requesting a statement regarding the limiting of image generation and editing on Grok.
On Jan. 3, Musk posted on X that, “anyone using Grok to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content.”
On Thursday, the European Commission ordered X to retain all documents relating to Grok for longer while the bloc ensures compliance with its rules after condemning it for producing sexualized images, Reuters reported. The Commission has decided to extend a retention order sent to X last year, which related to algorithms and dissemination of illegal content, prolonging it to the end of 2026.
Sweden also joined the chorus of criticism, saying the AI-generated images were unacceptable, after the country’s deputy prime minister was targeted by a Grok user’s prompt this week.
While xAI said it had taken down illegal AI-generated images of children, the latest incident could raise further concerns about how easy it is to override safety guardrails in AI models, the Financial Times reported.