3 h. ago Grok scandal highlights how AI industry is ‘too unconstrained’, tech pioneer says

‘Godfather of AI’ Yoshua Bengio says firms building powerful systems without appropriate guardrails • Musk’s X to block Grok AI from creating sexualised images of real people The scandal over the flood of intimate images on Elon Musk’s X created non-consensually by its Grok AI tool has underlined how the artificial intelligence industry is “too unconstrained”, according to a pioneer of the technology.Yoshua Bengio, a computer scientist described as one of the modern “godfathers of AI”, said tech companies were building systems without appropriate technical and societal guardrails. Continue reading...

Science

6 h. ago Musk’s X to block Grok AI tool from creating sexualised images of real people

UK government claims vindication after Keir Starmer criticised earlier decision to keep functionality as ‘horrific’The UK government has claimed “vindication” after Elon Musk’s X announced it had stopped its AI-powered Grok feature from editing pictures of real people to show them in revealing clothes such as bikinis, including for premium subscribers.After a fortnight of public outcry at the tool embedded into X being used to create sexualised images of women and children, the company said it would “geoblock” the ability of users “to generate images of real people in bikinis, underwear, and similar attire via the Grok account and in Grok in X”, in countries where it was illegal. Continue reading...

Politics

7 h. ago Everything we know about changes to Grok following backlash on sexualised images

Elon Musk has announced a U-turn on Grok's usage on social media platform X following pressure from the UK government

Politics

8 h. ago Elon Musk confirms X will restrict Grok photo editing amid sexualised images concerns

In a post on X on Wednesday, the company said it had imposed restrictions on "editing of images of real people in revealing clothing such as bikinis".

Culture

8 h. ago Elon Musk's X stops its AI tool Grok from undressing pictures of real people after huge backlash over sexualised deepfakes

Elon Musk's X says AI tool Grok will no longer undress pictures of real people after a furious backlash against its creation of sexualised deepfakes.

Politics

8 h. ago Elon Musk’s X to stop Grok AI undressing images of real people following huge backlash

Elon Musk’s company says it has imposed restrictions on ‘editing of images of real people in revealing clothing such as bikinis’

Politics

10 h. ago Elon Musk’s Grok made the world less safe – his humiliating backdown gives me hopium | Van Badham

The AI chatbot’s torrent of nonconsensual deepfakes isn’t its first scandal and won’t be its last. Responsible governments should simply ban itGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastBillionaire and career Bond-villain cosplayer Elon Musk has been forced by public backlash into a humiliating backdown over use of his AI chatbot, Grok. Watching the world’s richest man eat a shit sandwich on a global stage represents a rare win for sovereign democracy.Because – unlike his company history of labour and safety abuses his exploding rockets his government interventions that deny aid to the starving disabling Starlink internet systems in war zones sharing “white solidarity” statements or growing concern about overvaluations of his company’s share price – the nature of Grok’s latest scandal may finally be inspiring governments towards imposing some Musk-limiting red lines. Continue reading...

Politics

10 h. ago Elon Musk’s X restricts Grok photo editing amid concerns about sexualised images

Ofcom had earlier launched an investigation over reports Grok was allowing users to manipulate images of women and children.

Culture

19 h. ago Musk bows to pressure over Grok creating sexualised AI images

UK prime minister says xAI will restrict the image generator as billionaire pledges to follow laws in all markets

Events

20 h. ago X ‘acting to comply with UK law’ after outcry over sexualised images

New polling suggests 58% of Britons think X should be banned in the UK if the social network fails to crack down on nonconsensual imagesElon Musk’s X is understood to have told the government it is acting to comply with UK law, after nearly a fortnight of public outcry at the use of its AI tool Grok to manipulate images of women and children by removing their clothes.Keir Starmer told the House of Commons on Wednesday that photographs generated by Grok had been “disgusting” and “shameful”, but said he had been informed “X is acting to ensure full compliance with UK law”. Continue reading...

Politics

25 h. ago Starmer ‘won’t back down’ in fight with Musk’s X over Grok AI sexualised images

‘We’re not going to back down. They must act’, the prime minister said

Politics

25 h. ago X is acting to comply with UK law, Keir Starmer tells MPs amid Grok row

The PM said news the social media company was taking action on concerns Grok was producing sexualised images of women and children was welcome.

Politics

27 h. ago Young people, parents and teachers: share your views about Grok AI

We’d like to hear from young people, parents and teachers about how Elon Musk’s controversial chatbot is affecting youDegrading images of real women and children with their clothes digitally removed by Elon Musk’s Grok tool continue to be shared online, despite widespread alarm and a pledge by the platform to suspend users who generate them.While some safeguards have been introduced, the ease with which the AI tool can be abused has raised urgent questions about consent, online safety and the ability of governments worldwide to regulate fast-moving AI technologies. Meanwhile, the misuse of AI to harass, humiliate and sexually exploit people – particularly women and girls – is rapidly escalating. Continue reading...

Society

29 h. ago X's Grok AI 'won't produce sexualised images of women and children'

After the Prime Minister demanded the US tech billionaire to act to stem the creation of deepfakes, the social media tool last night began refusing to comply with user requests.

Politics

51 h. ago Labour’s first ‘Twitter tsar’ says ministers should get off ‘cesspit’ X immediately

Kerry McCarthy said X had ‘gone too far’ after its AI tool Grok was found to have been used to ‘undress’ images of people without consent and sexualise women and children

Politics

53 h. ago Has Keir Starmer quietly quit X? PM hasn't tweeted in nearly a week since row erupted over Elon Musk's Grok creating sexualised images of children

The Prime Minister hasn't posted on the social media platform in nearly a week, since 8 January, leading to speculation he might be deliberately snubbing the site.

Politics

65 h. ago Labour MP ‘baffled’ government still uses X after minister calls Grok’s sexualised images ‘weapons of abuse’

Charlotte Nichols calls on technology secretary to set out ‘red line’ social media firms must cross before government switches to alternative platforms

Politics

67 h. ago UK Grok ban live: Starmer threatens Musk over X’s ‘absolutely disgusting’ actions over AI deepfakes

Ofcom investigates social media platform over sexualised images made by its chatbot

Events

68 h. ago The Guardian view on regulating big tech: politicians must back Ofcom’s challenge to Musk | Editorial

A flood of non-consensual deepfake bikini shots on X is putting the UK’s Online Safety Act to the testThe unleashing on X (formerly Twitter) of a torrent of AI-generated images of women and children wearing bikinis, some in sexualised poses or with injuries, has rightly prompted a strong reaction from UK politicians and regulators. Monday’s announcement that X is being investigated was Ofcom’s most combative move since key provisions in the Online Safety Act came into force. None of the other businesses it has challenged or fined have anything like the global reach or political clout of Elon Musk’s social media giant. Whatever happens next, this is a defining moment. What is being defined is the extent to which some of the wealthiest companies on the planet are under democratic control.But the announcement is only a first step. Ofcom has given no indication of how long its investigation will take. On Friday Downing Street described as insulting the decision to li...

Politics

69 h. ago UK Grok ban live: New criminal offence to tackle AI deepfakes, Liz Kendall announces, as Ofcom investigates X

Technology secretary labels sexualised images as ‘weapons of abuse’ and accuses Elon Musk’s social media platform of ‘monetising abuse’

Events