Elon Musk-owned xAI has blocked its chatbot Grok from editing images of real people for all users. This move comes after widespread criticism over the misuse of the service.
Soon after xAI introduced the image-editing feature, users began requesting the chatbot to alter clothing of real individuals. Many prompts asked Grok to create sexualized images, including placing people in revealing outfits or bikinis, and in some cases, involved minors.
The misuse of image editing sparked global concern. Regulators from Asia to Europe took action against xAI for enabling explicit content. Indonesia and Malaysia temporarily banned the platform, while the United Kingdom’s Ofcom launched an investigation into Grok’s practices.
California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democratic presidential front-runner for 2028, urged authorities to investigate xAI and hold the company accountable for the misuse of image editing technology.
Elon Musk defended xAI, saying he had not seen any images of naked minors generated by Grok. Despite this, the company moved quickly to restrict the feature to prevent future abuse.
The new measures now prevent Grok from editing images of real people in revealing clothing, such as bikinis. xAI announced the change on X (formerly Twitter), emphasizing that the restriction applies to all users, including paid subscribers. Previously, the limit applied only to paid accounts.
xAI also noted that the restrictions consider user location, especially in countries where generating such content is illegal. The company said these technological safeguards aim to make the chatbot safer and more responsible while still allowing creative image editing on fictional or non-real subjects.
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This update highlights the challenges of AI image-editing tools and the growing need for ethical and legal oversight. By restricting the ability to alter images of real people, xAI is taking steps to prevent misuse and protect privacy.
