Elon Musk’s X has restricted AI image editing by its AI chatbot Grok amid growing regulatory pressure.
The changes come after UK regulators raised concerns about Grok, which was found to be generating manipulated, sexualised images of women and children.
Earlier this week, media regulator Ofcom launched an investigation into X.
This followed reports that Grok was allowing users to manipulate images of women and children to sexualise them.
Elon Musk's X restricts Grok image generation after concerns over sexual images
X has now confirmed that it has limited the editing and generation of images of real people in revealing clothing, such as bikinis.
A statement on the platform issued on Wednesday (January 14), reads: "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."
Mr Musk said the chatbot would not produce illegal content and suggested that “adversarial hacking” may have been behind the sexualised outputs.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer welcomed X's decision, but said the Government would continue to press for further action.
Sir Keir said: "To update the House, I have been informed this morning that X is acting to ensure full compliance with UK law.
"If so, that is welcome, but we’re not going to back down, and they must act.
"We will take the necessary measures. We will strengthen existing laws and prepare for legislation if it needs to go further, and Ofcom will continue its independent investigation."
During PMQs on Wednesday, he also repeated his condemnation of Grok as “disgusting” and “shameful", with a statement from the Prime Minister later adding that the Government was “keeping a close watch on the situation”.
After Prime Minister’s Questions, Sir Keir’s official spokesman said he had been responding to “some reports this morning surrounding some of the changes by the platform in terms of the ability to generate images of women”.
'Ofcom will have our support to ban X in the UK'
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said the watchdog would have ministers’ full support to take action against X, including effectively banning the platform in the UK, if the company did not make changes.
She described X’s decision to limit some image-generating features of Grok to paying users as “monetising abuse.”
Ms Kendall said legislation making it a criminal offence to create or request the creation of non-consensual intimate images would come into force this week following the Grok outcry.
Mr Musk has insisted Grok would not generate illegal content and said he was unaware of “any naked underage images generated by Grok.”
He also noted that with Not Safe For Work (NSFW) settings enabled, the chatbot may allow “upper body nudity of imaginary adult humans (not real ones) consistent with what can be seen in R-rated movies.”
He stressed that Grok’s “operating principle” is to “obey the laws of any given country or state.”
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