Elon Musk’s X has partially restricted access to Grok’s image-editing capabilities amid growing backlash against the flood of senseless, sexualized deepfakes depicting adults and minors generated by the platform. As of this writing, it no longer generates images when @grok replies for free, but Grok’s image editing tools remain readily available to any X user to create images, both sexual and tame.
X users could previously ask Grok – by tagging @grok in a tweet – to edit or create images on the platform. Users who now try to do so receive an automatic response from the chatbot account informing them that “Image generation and editing is currently limited to paying subscribers.” The response includes a link encouraging people to subscribe to X’s paid programs “to unlock these features.”
The message gives the impression that only paid X users can edit or create images with Grok. This message is supported by many of the headlines currently circulating stating that xAI, another Musk company that produces Grok, has restricted Grok’s image editing capabilities to a select group of users. But this impression is false. All X users — including free users — can continue to exploit Grok to edit and create images, including the sexually explicit deepfakes that got Grok in sizzling water to begin with.
Interacting with Grok through replies to X is just one of several ways to exploit an AI chatbot. For example, the “Edit Image” button still invokes Grok on any image displayed on the X desktop website, and the same button can be accessed in the X app by long-pressing on any image. Grok can also be accessed through a standalone website or app, as well as through a highly promoted tab within X Apps and X Site. These remain easily accessible to free users and require no additional effort compared to the @grok command.
Edge I tested Grok’s website, app, and tab with free accounts, and Grok happily complied with our requests to edit or generate various photos, including full “nudity” and one of Musk in a bikini.
The restrictions placed on X were introduced after Grok was used to generate sexual images, mainly of women, many of which are real, as well as minors. Much of it landed on X, who Financial Times. dubbed “fake porn site formerly known as Twitter.” The phony undressing, as well as other sexually explicit material, outraged regulators around the world, who threatened action against X, although deepfakes can fall into something of a legal vacuum.
An unnamed spokesman for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who said on Thursday he would not tolerate such a situation, said placing a deepfake factory behind a paywall was not the solution. “This move simply turns an AI feature that allows the creation of illegal images into a premium service. This is not a solution. In fact, it is offensive to victims of misogyny and sexual violence.”
Musk and xAI also threatened to take action against users who create illegal content using Grok, rather than ensuring that there are guardrails in place to prevent their creation.
The Musk has apparently I personally opposed tighter security barriers, and several members of xAI’s already compact security team resigned before the deluge of digital stripping.
X didn’t answer Edgerequest for comment.
Update, January 9: A comment from the British Prime Minister’s spokesman has been added.