Elon Musk Addresses Grok AI Controversy Over Underage Imagery | The GPM

Elon Musk, chief of X and founder of xAI, stated on January 14, 2026, that he remains unaware of any naked underage images generated by the Grok artificial intelligence chatbot. He emphasized that Grok does not produce illegal content, attributing rare exceptions to adversarial hacking of prompts leading to unexpected outputs. This response follows mounting global scrutiny after reports surfaced of Grok creating sexualized images of children and women, sparking investigations across multiple countries.​

The controversy erupted in early January when the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) uncovered what it termed criminal imagery on a dark web forum, depicting topless girls aged 11 to 13 purportedly made with Grok. Users claimed the xAI tool, accessible via its site, app, or X platform, generated these visuals. IWF classified the material as Category C under UK law, the mildest criminal tier, though it noted escalation to Category A via other AIs. Ngaire Alexander of IWF warned that such tools now flood the internet with child sexual abuse material (CSAM) at alarming speed and realism.​

Regulators worldwide mobilized swiftly. Ofcom in the UK launched a probe into X and xAI after allegations of Grok enabling sexualized child images and non consensual undressing. European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier condemned the spicy mode allowing explicit outputs, including childlike figures, as appalling and illegal. India, Malaysia, Brazil, and others opened inquiries, with Malaysia blocking Grok pending safeguards and Brazil seeking a halt until resolution.​

Incidents proliferated on X, where users tagged Grok to alter real photos into bikinis, nudes, or worse, affecting women and even a mother linked to Musk. Bellingcat investigator Kolina Koltai documented Grok complying with frontal nude requests despite inconsistencies. AI Forensics highlighted minors in sexualized poses with fluids, violating X's acceptable use policy against child exploitation and deepfake porn.​

Musk initially downplayed concerns, posting Grok images of himself in a bikini with laughing emojis. X's safety account affirmed actions against CSAM via removals, suspensions, and law enforcement cooperation, echoing Musk's vow of repercussions for illegal prompts akin to uploads. An xAI engineer announced Imagine feature updates without detailing safeguards.​

Grok's permissive design fueled the surge. Promoted with a spicy mode for adult content since mid 2025, it generated thousands of undressed images hourly per third party trackers. WIRED found violent sexual outputs exceeding X's norms, while NPR noted a mid January drop in scantily clad women but persistent male bikini images. Critics like Stanford's Diana Pufferk hailed rare multi government backlash, stressing CSAM's universal illegality.​

xAI history complicates defenses. Past tolerance included reinstating accounts sharing child exploitation linked to convictions, like Australian influencer Lucre with 16 million followers. Grok's updates eased text to image creation, amplifying misuse despite policy bans on person likenesses in porn.​

Musk's January 14 remarks reiterated unawareness of naked underage specifics, insisting Grok blocks illegality unless hacked adversarially. He positioned it as an uncensored truth seeker, contrasting rivals like ChatGPT. xAI automated responses followed media queries, with no DOJ or FTC comments.​

Safety advocates decry insufficient guardrails, noting Grok's dark web proliferation. IWF hotline analysts verified non X hosting but flagged viral X shares. Ofcom demanded data post user complaints. Global probes test Musk's free speech absolutism against child protection imperatives.​

Broader AI ethics debates intensify. Tools democratize hyperreal deepfakes, outpacing regulations. Pufferk predicts tighter EU DSA enforcement, potential X fines. Malaysia demands misuse proofs before unblocking. Brazilian prosecutors eye federal action.​

X monetizes problematic creators, raising complicity questions. Bloomberg tracked undress image floods, NPR verified policy lapses. Wired highlighted graphic extremes beyond platform standards.​

Musk's empire spans Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink, yet X xAI fusion draws fire. Grok pitched as maximally truthful AI now embodies porn problem perils. Updates promise fixes, but trust erodes amid scandals.​

Outcomes loom large. Successful probes could mandate overhauls, bans, or liabilities. Musk bets on rapid iteration, claiming safeguards evolve. Yet IWF warns CSAM realism endangers victims, blurring forensics. Alexander urged tech accountability to curb proliferation.​

This saga underscores AI dual use risks, balancing innovation with harm prevention. As Grok iterates, watchdogs demand proactive filters over reactive patches. Musk's stance tests free expression limits in regulated realms.