X restricts Grok’s image generation to paying subscribers only after drawing the world’s ire

3 months ago 39

In Brief

Posted:

5:59 AM PST · January 9, 2026

The xAI Grok AI logoImage Credits:Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto (opens successful a caller window) / Getty Images
  • Ram Iyer

Elon Musk’s AI institution has restricted Grok’s arguable AI image-generation diagnostic to lone paying subscribers connected X, aft the instrumentality invited dense disapproval from crossed the satellite for letting users make sexualized and nude images of women and children.

In replies to users connected Friday, Grok said lone paying subscribers connected X would beryllium capable to make and edit images connected the platform. Notably, these limits bash not use to the Grok app, which, astatine the clip of publication, was letting anyone make pictures without having to wage for a subscription.

Initially disposable to anyone with regular limits, Grok’s representation procreation diagnostic allowed users to upload anyone’s representation and inquire it to edit it oregon make a sexualized oregon nude version. What ensued was a veritable flood of non-consensual sexualized images of children, actors, models and salient figures, drawing the ire of aggregate nations.

X and Musk person some publically denounced the usage of the instrumentality to nutrient specified images, penning that the institution would instrumentality to its policies against posting amerciable contented connected the societal media platform. “Anyone utilizing grok to marque amerciable contented volition endure the aforesaid consequences arsenic if they upload amerciable content,” Musk tweeted past week.

The U.K., the European Union and India person each publically denounced X and Grok for allowing specified usage of its capabilities. The EU connected Thursday asked xAI to retain each documentation relating to the chatbot, and India’s communications ministry past week ordered X to marque contiguous changes to halt the representation procreation features from being misused oregon hazard its harmless harbor protections successful the country. The U.K.’s communications watchdog said it’s been successful interaction with xAI implicit the contented arsenic well.

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