In August 2025, Grok, a chatbot developed by xAI, rolled out a fresh image - generation feature named Grok Imagine. In December, pandemonium broke loose following the launch of its 'image - modification of others' posts' function. A substantial number of users took advantage of this feature to maliciously manipulate photos of real people, including the disturbing act of 'digitally undressing' them. The majority of the materials in question featured real women or minors, all without obtaining the consent of the individuals depicted.

This incident quickly grabbed the world's attention, spurring governments and regulatory bodies in numerous countries to take decisive action against Grok. For instance, Malaysia and Indonesia decided to block access to Grok, while nations such as the UK and France initiated investigations. Prior to this, Grok had already found itself embroiled in controversies. It had been accused of disseminating right - wing conspiracy theories and denying the atrocities of the Nazi Holocaust. Some observers contend that Grok's repeated controversies might be closely tied to Musk's right - wing political leanings. Despite these controversies, the U.S. military has maintained its collaboration with Grok.

On January 14, the California Attorney General announced the launch of an investigation into the X platform and xAI. In response, Musk claimed that no images of naked minors generated by Grok had been discovered. Subsequently, the X platform once again temporarily suspended Grok. This incident has only served to further widen the existing rifts within American society.