X restricts Grok’s image generation to paid subscribers only after drawing worldwide ire

Elon Musk’s AI company has limited Grok’s controversial AI image generation feature to only paid subscribers on X, after the tool drew heavy criticism from around the world for allowing users to generate sexualized and nude images of women and children.

In his responses to users on Friday, Grok said only paid subscribers on X would be able to generate and edit images on the platform. Notably, these limits do not apply to the Grok app, which, at the time of publication, allowed anyone to generate images without having to pay a subscription.

Initially available to anyone with daily limitations, Grok’s image generation feature allowed users to upload anyone’s photo and ask them to edit it or generate a sexualized or nude version. What followed was a real flood non-consensual sexualized images of children, actors, models and personalities, attracting the wrath of many nations.

Both X and Musk publicly denounced the use of the tool to produce such images, writing that the company would stick to its policies against posting illegal content on the social media platform. “Anyone who uses Grok to create illegal content will face the same consequences as if they downloaded illegal content,” Musk tweeted last week.

The United Kingdom, the European Union and India have all publicly denounced X and Grok for allowing such use of its capabilities. The EU on Thursday asked xAI to retain all documentation related to chatbot and Indian Ministry of Communications last week ordered X must make immediate changes to prevent image generation features from being misused or risk its in-country Safe Harbor protections. The UK’s communications watchdog said he has also been in contact with xAI about this.