Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI is facing widespread backlash after users on X were seen using its chatbot, Grok, to upload photos of women and minors and generate sexualized content.
The controversy erupted after screenshots and user reports circulated online, prompting concerns over AI safety, content moderation, and the platform’s safeguards — particularly when it comes to protecting minors. According to CBS News, Grok acknowledged the issue publicly on Friday, stating that it had identified serious lapses in its systems and was taking urgent steps to address them.
Grok Acknowledges Safeguard Failures and Shares Reporting Resources
In a post on X, Grok admitted that its safeguards failed and emphasized that content involving the sexual exploitation of minors is illegal and prohibited. “We’ve identified lapses in safeguards and are urgently fixing them — CSAM is illegal and prohibited,” Grok wrote. “For formal reports, use the FBI tip line or NCMEC’s CyberTipline. xAI is committed to preventing such issues.”
The chatbot also shared links to the Federal Bureau of Investigation tip portal and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children reporting system. The response came amid mounting criticism that the AI was not adequately restricted from generating harmful or exploitative outputs.
French Authorities Flag Content as ‘Manifestly Illegal’
The issue quickly escalated beyond the U.S. French officials reportedly referred some of the Grok-generated content to prosecutors, describing it as “manifestly illegal.” The move signals growing international scrutiny around AI-generated content and cross-border enforcement challenges.
In a separate statement, Grok also issued an apology for a specific incident involving minors. “I deeply regret an incident on Dec. 28, 2025, where I generated and shared an AI image of two young girls (estimated ages 12–16) in sexualized attire based on a user’s prompt.”
Grok’s Past ‘Spicy Mode’ Raises Additional Concerns
This is not the first time Grok has faced criticism over sexually inappropriate content.
Earlier backlash stemmed from the chatbot’s controversial “Spicy Mode” feature, which was marketed as a tool to help creators craft more “daring” narratives. A test conducted by The Verge reportedly resulted in the generation of a sexually explicit deepfake involving a female celebrity, reigniting debates around consent, misuse, and ethical AI development.
