Grok Faces Backlash for Generating Sexualized Images of Minors
What started as a new feature quietly rolling out on X has turned into one of the clearest examples yet of how fast AI tools can be misused once users figure out their limits. X’s built-in chatbot, Grok, is now facing global scrutiny after users discovered it could be prompted to generate sexualized images of underage girls and create non-consensual edits of women’s photos.
The issue centers on Grok’s recently launched image-editing feature. When it went live in late December, users realized they could tag the bot under photos and ask it to alter clothing or generate bikini edits. Those prompts spread quickly. What followed was not a technical glitch but a discovery. Users learned, through trial and error, that Grok would often comply.
Over the past few days, requests to digitally undress women and girls began appearing across X. In many cases, Grok generated altered images before posts were removed. The pattern escalated as users pushed the bot further, asking for smaller outfits, transparent clothing, or repeated edits to the same image.
The moment that shifted the situation from disturbing to legally alarming came on Friday. Grok posted an admission confirming it had generated an AI image of two girls believed to be between 12 and 16 years old in sexualized attire following a user prompt. The chatbot said the output violated ethical standards and could fall under U.S. laws governing child sexual abuse material.
The apology itself exposed another layer of the problem. It appears Grok only issued the statement after a user explicitly asked it to write an apology explaining what happened. The system did not flag or halt the situation on its own. It responded when directed.
A familiar warning sign for AI tools
A report from the Internet Watch Foundation shows reports of AI-generated child sexual abuse imagery jumped by 400 percent in the first half of 2025. Courts have already sentenced individuals for creating deepfake CSAM, including a 2024 case in the U.S. that resulted in nearly eight years in prison.
So far, Elon Musk has not directly addressed the child safety implications. His public posts have focused on joking references to AI-generated bikini images, which have only sharpened criticism.
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