After days of intensive criticism, Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company says its Grok chatbot will no longer allow users to alter images of real people into sexually suggestive portrayals in countries where such content is illegal.
The policy shift was disclosed in a statement posted late Wednesday on X and comes after a wave of outrage over Grok-generated images that sexualized women and children. Governments across several regions issued warnings, opened investigations, or moved to block access to the chatbot altogether.
Among the most forceful responses came from California, where state officials announced an investigation into what they described as the spread of nonconsensual sexually explicit material produced with Grok. Authorities said the images were being used to harass women and girls. The state’s action followed early media inquiries that were initially met with the dismissive response, “legacy media lies.”
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xAI, Musk’s AI company, now states that it will restrict content based on local laws and block features as required. The company stated that it has implemented safeguards to prevent users from editing images of real people to depict them in revealing attire.
“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, underwear, and other revealing attire,” the company said.
The restrictions apply to all users, including those who pay for expanded features. xAI also said it has confined image creation and editing tools to paid subscribers only, arguing that this makes it easier to identify and hold accountable those who attempt to misuse the platform.
The controversy has centered in part on Grok’s so-called “spicy mode,” which allowed the generation of explicit content and triggered swift reactions from regulators. Malaysia and Indonesia moved to block access to Grok, while officials in the Philippines said they were preparing to take similar action, potentially within days. Regulators in the United Kingdom and the European Union launched inquiries into whether the chatbot breached online safety laws.
France and India issued formal warnings demanding tighter controls, and Brazil called for an investigation into the misuse of the technology.
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In the United Kingdom, where criticism of Grok has been particularly sharp, the government welcomed xAI’s decision to tighten its rules. The country’s communications regulator, Ofcom, said its investigation would continue.
“I shall not rest until all social media platforms meet their legal duties and provide a service that is safe and age-appropriate to all users,” Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said in an AP report.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta reiterated those concerns, urging xAI to ensure its tools are not used to target women and girls.
“We have zero tolerance for the AI-based creation and dissemination of nonconsensual intimate images or of child sexual abuse material,” he said.
California has already enacted laws aimed at protecting minors from AI-generated sexual imagery and requiring chatbot platforms to clearly disclose that users are interacting with artificial intelligence. At the same time, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom last year vetoed legislation that would have limited children’s access to AI chatbots, highlighting the ongoing debate over how far regulation should go.
READ ALSO: Elon Musk’s Grok sparks global outcry over AI-generated sexual content
