Elon Musk’s X has restricted its Grok chatbot so that only “verified” or paying users can generate and edit images, a move critics say represents the “monetization of abuse.” Despite the change, the AI continues to produce sexualized images, including depictions of women and apparent minors, on Grok’s app and website. Paul Bouchaud, lead researcher at AI Forensics, said, “The model can continue to generate bikini [images].”
Users on X attempting image creation with free accounts were blocked, but testing on Grok’s standalone app showed sexually explicit content could still be generated without restriction.
The changes follow growing international scrutiny of X and xAI, which face multiple investigations over nonconsensual explicit imagery. Emma Pickering of UK domestic abuse charity Refuge criticized the approach, saying, “While limiting AI image generation to paid users may marginally reduce volume and improve traceability, the abuse has not been stopped.
It has simply been placed behind a paywall, allowing X to profit from harm.” British authorities described the move as “insulting” to victims, warning that X’s actions effectively turn a harmful AI feature into a premium service