Elon Musk’s Grok can no longer undress images of real people on X

In this photo illustration, the Grok AI app is seen displayed on a smartphone. (Davide Bonaldo/SOPA Images/Shutterstock via CNN Newsource)

Elon Musk’s Grok artificial intelligence chatbot will no longer edit “images of real people in revealing clothing” on the X platform, the company confirmed Wednesday evening, following global outrage after Grok was found to be complying with user requests to digitally undress images of adults and in some cases children.

“We have implemented technological measures to prevent the Grok account from allowing the editing of images of real people in revealing clothing such as bikinis. This restriction applies to all users, including paid subscribers,” X wrote via its Safety team account.

Within the last week xAi, which owns both Grok and X, restricted image generation for Grok on X to paying X premium subscribers. Researchers and CNN’s team had observed that in recent days, Grok’s X account had modified how it responded in general to user’s image generation requests, even for those subscribed to X premium. X’s post on Wednesday evening confirmed those changes.

However, researchers at AI Forensics, a European non-profit that investigates algorithm, said they observed “inconsistencies in the treatment of pornographic content generation” between public interactions with Grok on X and private chat on Grok.com.

X reiterated on Wednesday that they “take action against illegal content on X, including Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), by removing it, permanently suspending accounts, and working with local governments and law enforcement as necessary. Anyone using or prompting Grok to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content.”

On Wednesday Musk said in a post on X that he was “not aware of any naked underage images generated by Grok. Literally zero.” Grok “will refuse to produce anything illegal, as the operating principle for Grok is to obey the laws of any given country or state,” he added.

However, researchers said that while fully nude images were rare, the biggest issue was Grok complying with user requests to modify images of minors and place them revealing clothing, including bikinis and underwear, as well as in sexually provocative positions.

Creators of those types of non-consensual intimate images could still be subject to criminal prosecution of Child Sexual Abuse Material and are potentially subject to fines and prison time under the Take it Down Act, signed last year by U.S. President Donald Trump.

On Wednesday, Calif. Attorney General Rob Bonta announced an investigation into the “proliferation of nonconsensual sexually explicit material produced using Grok.”

Grok is still banned in Indonesia and Malaysia as a result of the image generation controversy. U.K. regulator Ofcom announced Monday it has launched a formal investigation of X, although Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office said Wednesday he welcomes reports X is addressing the issue.