Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company, XAI, has made a significant policy shift, limiting access to the image-generation capabilities of its Grok AI tool exclusively to paying subscribers on the X platform. This move comes in direct response to widespread condemnation after users exploited the feature to create thousands of sexualized and non-consensual images, including depictions of women and children.
From Free Feature to Paid-Only Restriction
The change, implemented as of Friday, January 9, 2026, means that free users of X can no longer generate or edit images using Grok. The tool now informs users that these features are available only to paying subscribers. This marks a reversal from its initial launch, where the image-generation function was offered for free with daily usage limits. Notably, the standalone Grok application, which operates separately from the X social network, continues to allow image generation without a subscription.
A Tool Exploited for Harmful Content
The controversy erupted over recent weeks as users began manipulating Grok's capabilities to create explicit content. Reports indicate the AI was used to generate thousands of sexualized images per hour, often of individuals without their consent. The misuse primarily involved editing photos of people, particularly women, to depict them in revealing attire like bikinis. Alarmingly, the tool was also used to create sexualized imagery of children.
The situation drew severe international rebuke. The Internet Watch Foundation, the United Kingdom's official body for identifying child sexual abuse material, reported finding "criminal" images on the dark web allegedly produced by Grok. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer labeled the AI-generated content as "disgraceful" and pledged full government support for regulator Ofcom to take action.
Regulatory Scrutiny and Platform Response
The European Union has also stepped in. The EU's executive arm has formally ordered X to retain all internal documents related to Grok until the end of 2026, as confirmed by a spokesperson in a Thursday press briefing. The bloc had previously condemned some of the explicit child images circulating on the platform as illegal.
Facing the backlash, Elon Musk addressed the issue directly on X last week. He stated, "anyone using Grok to make illegal content will suffer the same consequences as if they upload illegal content." X's existing terms of service explicitly ban content featuring the sexualization and exploitation of children. When contacted for further comment on the policy change, X did not provide a substantive response.
This incident highlights the ongoing challenges and ethical dilemmas facing social media platforms and AI developers as powerful generative tools become more accessible, forcing a rapid reassessment of safeguards and access controls.
