Elon Musk denies awareness of Grok generating naked underage AI images
Elon Musk has publicly denied being aware of any “naked underage images” generated by Grok, stating that he is “not aware of any naked underage images generated by Grok. Literally zero.” He made the comment in a post on X as the company faces mounting global scrutiny over reports that its AI tool has been used to produce sexualised images of women and minors. Musk emphasised that Grok only generates content in response to user requests and is programmed to refuse anything illegal, saying that the system is designed to comply with the laws of the country or state where it operates. He also stressed that anyone using Grok to create illegal content would face legal consequences.
The denial comes amid pressure from lawmakers, advocacy groups and regulators in countries including the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Indonesia and the United States. Some governments have launched investigations or even blocked access to Grok, citing concerns that the AI had been used to create non-consensual and sexually explicit deepfake images of people, including minors. In the UK, regulators and lawmakers have warned that creating such content could soon be criminalised under new laws, with investigations underway to assess whether Grok has breached online safety rules.
Despite Musk’s assurances, critics and advocacy organisations are pushing back, saying that reports and analyses have shown instances where Grok has been used to produce harmful content. Investigations by watchdogs and media outlets have suggested the AI was capable of generating sexualised or revealing images of people, sometimes including those appearing underage, when prompted by users. This has led to formal inquiries, potential legal action and calls from lawmakers to remove the Grok feature from app stores.
The controversy highlights broader concerns about the ethical boundaries of generative AI tools and the challenges of enforcing content safeguards, particularly when powerful image generation features are available to a wide audience. Musk’s comments seek to reassure the public that Grok’s design prevents illegal content, but regulators and rights groups continue to monitor the situation closely and pursue stronger safeguards and legal frameworks.
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