Report flags massive generation of sexualised images by Musk’s Grok AI tool
San Francisco: Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence chatbot Grok generated an estimated three million sexualised images of women and children within days of launching a new image-editing feature, researchers said on Thursday, raising concerns about the scale of harmful AI-generated content circulating online.
The feature, developed by Musk’s startup xAI and integrated into X, allowed users to modify images of real people using simple text prompts, triggering a surge in sexually explicit deepfake images. The development prompted regulatory scrutiny and led several countries to impose bans on the tool.
According to a report by the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), Grok produced around three million sexualised images over an 11-day period, including about 23,000 images that appeared to depict children. The watchdog group estimated the system generated content at an average rate of 190 images per minute.
The report did not specify how many of the images were created without the consent of the individuals depicted. CCDH chief executive Imran Ahmed said the findings highlighted the risks of deploying AI tools without adequate safeguards, calling the platform a large-scale generator of sexual abuse material.
There was no immediate detailed response from X or xAI. In an email reply to AFP, xAI issued an automated message stating, “Legacy Media Lies.”
Following global backlash, X announced it would geoblock the ability of users to generate images of people in “bikinis, underwear, and similar attire” in jurisdictions where such content is illegal, although the company did not specify which regions would be affected.
The move came after California’s attorney general launched an investigation into xAI and several other countries initiated probes into the tool. Critics said the measures were insufficient, arguing that the harm caused by the spread of such content could not be reversed.
Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines imposed temporary bans on Grok, while Britain and France said they would continue to scrutinise the platform. The Philippines later lifted its ban after xAI agreed to modify the tool locally and remove its ability to generate pornographic content.
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Epstein files allege email claims about Bill Gates seeking antibiotics; foundation denies charges
Washington DC: fresh set of documents released as part of the Jeffrey Epstein files has triggered renewed attention after screenshots of alleged self-emails attributed to Epstein made claims involving Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.
The screenshots, circulating online and reported by several outlets, purport to show Epstein writing to himself in July 2013, alleging that Gates had contracted a sexually transmitted disease during encounters with women described as “Russian girls” and had asked Epstein to arrange antibiotics to be given discreetly to his then wife, Melinda Gates. The documents also contain claims of personal disputes and alleged requests that Epstein delete certain emails.
The authenticity of the screenshots has not been independently verified. The allegations contained in them remain unsubstantiated and are disputed by context and prior public statements from Gates. There is no confirmation from official records that the claims are factual.
According to reports, the screenshots are part of a larger tranche of documents released by the United States Department of Justice, comprising hundreds of thousands of pages related to Epstein. Epstein, a convicted sex offender, died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
The alleged email text includes Epstein expressing anger over Gates distancing himself from their relationship and claiming involvement in matters he described as morally or ethically inappropriate. The documents also reference marital tensions between Bill and Melinda Gates, though no independent evidence is provided to support the claims.
Bill Gates has previously acknowledged meeting Epstein and has said he regretted the association, while repeatedly denying any involvement in illegal or unethical activities. His philanthropic foundation has issued a strong denial in response to the latest claims, calling the allegations absurd and completely false.
Bill and Melinda Gates were married from 1994 until their divorce in 2021. Melinda Gates has publicly stated that Gates’s extramarital relationships and his association with Epstein were among the factors that led to the end of their marriage, without detailing specific allegations.
As with earlier Epstein-related disclosures, legal experts and media analysts have urged caution, noting that the presence of a name in released documents does not establish wrongdoing and that many claims in the material remain unproven.
