ELON MUSK’S GROK FACES CRITICISM FOR PRODUCING AI-GENERATED EXPLICIT IMAGES OF MINORS. (PHOTO).

 Elon Musk’s Grok faces criticism for producing AI-generated explicit images of minors

Elon Musk’s AI chatbot, Grok, has come under fire after users were able to generate explicit images of minors, including 14-year-old Nell Fisher from the Netflix series “Stranger Things.” The incidents highlight the risks of AI tools, even those authorized for official government use, and raise concerns about their potential to harm or endanger children.

Grok acknowledged the issue on X, formerly Twitter, confirming there were “isolated cases” in which users received AI-generated images depicting minors in minimal clothing. The chatbot also warned that the company behind it, xAI, could face investigations or lawsuits over the content. The images reportedly violated Grok’s terms of service, which ban sexualized depictions of children.

The incidents prompted reactions from authorities abroad. In France, three government ministers said they referred the matter to an investigative agency to examine potential violations of the European Union’s Digital Services Act, which regulates online platforms and could impose significant fines for noncompliance. In India, the country’s IT Minister gave xAI 72 hours to report measures it has taken to prevent the spread of content deemed obscene, pornographic, or sexually explicit.

Grok posted on X that the company had “identified lapses in safeguards and are urgently fixing them,” emphasizing that child sexual abuse material is illegal and prohibited. The controversy comes as Musk seeks to restore relationships with the U.S. government, which has integrated xAI into federal operations under an 18-month contract despite warnings from consumer advocacy groups about safety and bias concerns.

xAI and Grok have previously faced criticism for spreading misinformation, including false claims about global events, election-related content, and antisemitic commentary—issues Musk has said were due to user manipulation. The company has promised a new “Trust and Safety center of excellence” to monitor content and enforce platform rules, though details on its launch remain unclear.

Authorities and advocacy groups continue to stress the importance of reporting illegal content, encouraging the use of the FBI tipline and resources from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.