WASHINGTON (TNND) — X’s artificial intelligence assistant, Grok, is facing trouble after reportedly generating fake nude or revealing images of public figures, including British royal Kate Middleton.
Grok had a rocky start in November 2023, when reports emerge that the AI assistant would reply to users who use it with misinformation or conspiracy theories.
The United Kingdom’s regulatory authority for the communication industry in the U.K. said it has made “urgent contact” with Elon Musk’s social media company over Grok creating images “undressing” real people.
“The BBC has seen several examples on the social media platform X of people asking the chatbot to alter real images to make women appear in bikinis without their consent, as well as putting them in sexual situations,” the outlet reported on Tuesday, Jan. 6.
Liz Kendall, the U.K.’s technology minister, urged Ofcom to take urgent action upon the issue.
“We cannot and will not allow the proliferation of these demeaning and degrading images, which are disproportionately aimed at women and girls,” she said in a statement, according to The Guardian.
“Make no mistake, the U.K. will not tolerate the endless proliferation of disgusting and abusive material online. We must all come together to stamp it out.”
The Princess of Wales is reportedly a big target of requests to Grok, as well as journalist Samantha Smith.
“While it wasn’t me that was in states of undress, it looked like me and it felt like me, and it felt as violating as if someone had actually posted a nude or a bikini picture of me,” Smith said.
Users have not only targeted celebrities from the U.K.; screenshots have also circulated online showing X users allegedly asking Grok to create inappropriate images of Stranger Things actress Nell Fisher, 14, in a bikini.
Elon Musk has since posted a reply to an inquiry about Grok “creating inappropriate images.”
“Anyone using Grok to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content,” he wrote.