SAN FRANCISCO—In a major retreat following weeks of international backlash, Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company, xAI, announced late on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, that it is imposing strict new limits on its chatbot, Grok. The tool will no longer be allowed to edit photos of real people to depict them in revealing clothing, such as bikinis or underwear.
The move comes after a “mass digital undressing spree” where users utilized Grok’s “spicy mode” to generate thousands of sexually explicit deepfakes of women and, in some documented cases, children as young as five.
1. The New Restrictions
The policy change is an “extra layer of protection” intended to stop the large-scale production of non-consensual intimate images.
- Universal Rollout: Unlike previous updates that only restricted free users, these new rules apply to all users on X, including Premium and Premium+ subscribers.
- Photo Editing Ban: Grok is now programmed to refuse any request to alter the clothing of a real person into “revealing” or “skimpy” attire.
- Accountability: xAI stated the change would help ensure that those who attempt to abuse the tool to violate the law can be held accountable.
2. Global Regulatory Crackdown
The tech world is witnessing a rare moment of unified global action against an AI tool.
- California Investigation: Attorney General Rob Bonta officially launched a formal investigation into xAI on Wednesday. Governor Gavin Newsom called the generation of images digitally undressing children “vile” and demanded immediate accountability.
- International Bans: * Indonesia & Malaysia: Both nations have fully blocked access to Grok as of mid-January.
- United Kingdom: Regulator Ofcom is investigating whether xAI breached the Online Safety Act.
- India: The IT Ministry has warned X of potential loss of “safe harbor” protections if it fails to curb obscene AI-generated content.
- Apple & Google Pressure: Lawmakers and advocacy groups are currently pressuring the tech giants to remove the X app from their stores due to its role in distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM).
3. Elon Musk: “Literally Zero”
Despite researchers at AI Forensics and the Internet Watch Foundation providing evidence of Grok-generated sexualized images of minors, Elon Musk has remained defiant.
“I [am] not aware of any naked underage images generated by Grok. Literally zero,” Musk posted on X Wednesday.
He maintains that the tool only responds to user requests and is designed to refuse illegal prompts, though critics point out that users have easily bypassed these “thin” guardrails for weeks.
Sidebar: Musk’s Personal Legal Battle
The AI scandal coincides with a deepening personal controversy for Musk. On January 12, 2026, Musk announced on X that he is filing for full custody of his one-year-old son, Romulus, whom he shares with influencer Ashley St. Clair.
- The Conflict: Musk’s move followed a public apology by St. Clair for her past transphobic comments and her expressed support for the trans community.
- The Claim: Musk alleged St. Clair’s statements implied an intention to “transition” their one-year-old son—a claim St. Clair’s supporters have dismissed as a misinterpretation of her support for Musk’s transgender daughter, Vivian.