xAI has restricted the image-generation features of its AI model, Grok, to paid subscribers. The change was revealed through Grok’s own responses to user prompts on X.
The move follows widespread government backlash over how Grok was being misused on the platform.
Users on X were editing uploaded images through Grok to fulfil obscene requests. These requests were made by tagging the @grok bot, which generated and posted the edited images directly to the public feed.
The issue escalated because the generated images were publicly visible and often involved explicit sexual content. In several cases, the requests targeted real individuals, raising concerns around consent, harassment, and the circulation of non-consensual explicit material.
As a result, multiple countries—including the United Kingdom, India, Malaysia, France, and Ireland—sent notices to Elon Musk’s social media platform.
These notices called for investigations into the generation and spread of inappropriate and obscene AI-generated images on X.
Data shared by AI detection firm Copyleaks highlights the scale of the problem.
According to the firm, users requested the creation of obscene images at a rate of roughly once per minute over a 24-hour period.
Separately, Reuters reported that in a five-minute window, 102 requests were made to Grok to generate explicit images. The AI model complied with approximately one in five of those requests.
Having said that, X stated in a comment that the company will 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.”
A few days ago, India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) intervened and issued a notice to X, directing it to remove obscene content and flagging concerns over the misuse of Grok.
In a letter addressed to X’s Chief Compliance Officer for India, the Ministry flagged that Grok was being exploited by users to create fake accounts that host, generate, publish, or share obscene images and videos of women in a derogatory and vulgar manner.
The company was given time until February 7th to submit a detailed report. However, a report from The Times of India states that the ministry is not fully satisfied with the company’s initial response, and is “likely to seek clearer, step-by-step details on corrective measures the platform plan to implement.”
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