Grok, a generative AI tool owned by billionaire Elon Musk, has turned off its image creation feature for most users after facing strong criticism. The tool was accused of being used to create sexually explicit and violent images. 

Reports say the decision came after Musk faced threats of fines, regulatory action, and even a possible ban on X in the UK. The tool was allegedly used to edit images of women by removing their clothes and placing them in sexualised poses. This image creation feature is now available only to paying subscribers. 

On the social media platform X, Grok said, “Image generation and editing are currently limited to paying subscribers.” 

After this change, most Grok users can no longer create images. Only users who can still use the feature have their full details and credit card information stored by X, making it possible to identify them if the tool is misused. 

Indian govt also warned the company earlier 

Earlier, the Indian government on January 2 issued a stern notice to Elon Musk-led social media platform X to immediately remove all vulgar and unlawful content, especially generated by its AI app Grok or face action under the law. 

The Ministry of Electronics and IT has issued a notice to the Chief Compliance Officer for India operations of X for failure to observe statutory due diligence obligations under the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. 

"...X is hereby directed to...remove or disable access, without delay, to all content already generated or disseminated in violation of applicable laws, in strict compliance with the timelines prescribed under the IT Rules, 2021, without vitiating the evidence in any manner," the order dated January 2 said. 

The ministry has sought an action taken report towards immediate compliance for the prevention of hosting, generation, publication, transmission, sharing or uploading of obscene, nude, indecent and sexually explicit content through the misuse of AI-based services like 'Grok'.