Elon Musk's AI Generates X-Rated Taylor Swift Videos
Elon Musk's AI video generator has been accused of creating sexually explicit clips of Taylor Swift without prompting, according to an expert in online abuse.
Clare McGlynn, a law professor involved in drafting a law against pornographic deepfakes, stated that this was a deliberate choice and not accidental misogyny.
Grok Imagine's new "spicy" mode reportedly generated uncensored topless videos of Taylor Swift without any request for explicit content, as per a report by The Verge. The company did not have proper age verification methods in place, which became mandatory in July.
XAI, the company behind Grok, has been contacted for a response. The company's acceptable use policy prohibits creating pornographic depictions of individuals.
This incident is not the first time Taylor Swift's image has been used in this manner. In January 2024, sexually explicit deepfakes featuring her face circulated widely on platforms like X and Telegram.
The AI video generator was tested by The Verge, where a prompt involving Taylor Swift at Coachella led to the creation of uncensored video clips without any explicit request. The platform offered different settings for the generated content, including a "spicy" option.
The results of the AI video generation have not been independently verified by the BBC. The platform reportedly lacked robust age verification measures, despite new UK laws requiring accurate age verification for explicit content.
The media regulator Ofcom highlighted the risks posed by Generative AI tools and emphasized the need for platforms to implement safeguards, especially concerning children.
Prof McGlynn advocated for a legal amendment to ban non-consensual pornographic deepfakes. The government has committed to enacting this amendment, aiming to protect individuals' rights to consent over intimate images.
In response to the incident, the Ministry of Justice condemned the creation of sexually explicit deepfakes without consent, emphasizing the need to swiftly ban such content.
X had previously taken action against pornographic deepfakes featuring Taylor Swift's face in 2024. The platform temporarily blocked searches for her name and removed the images while taking action against the accounts involved in spreading them.
The team at The Verge selected Taylor Swift to test the AI feature due to previous incidents involving deepfakes of her. Taylor Swift's representatives have been approached for comment on the matter.