Following Grok chatbot’s use of AI to create and publish sexualized images sparked a widespread backlash, Elon Musk's startup xAI has put some restrictions on the image generation tool on social media platform X. Users had been able to ask Grok directly on X to edit photos of people, including removing items of clothing and putting them in sexualized poses - often without their consent.
However, now the image generation and editing features will be available only to paying subscribers.
The move appeared to have stopped Grok from generating and automatically publishing such images in response to a user post or comment on the social media site.
However, X users were still able to create sexualized images using the Grok tab, where people interact directly with the chatbot within the social media platform, and then post the images to X themselves.
The standalone Grok app, which operates separately from X, was also still allowing users to generate images without a subscription.
Musk said last week that anyone using Grok to create illegal content would face the same consequences as for uploading such material directly.
The European Commission, which has called images of undressed women and children shared across X unlawful and appalling, said the restrictions did not address its concerns.
"Limiting the image generation and editing to paying subscribers, this doesn't change our fundamental issue, paid subscription or non-paid subscription, we don't want to see such images," a Commission spokesperson said.
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