Grok AI Video Generator Sparks Deepfake Controversy
Grok Introduces 'Imagine' Video Generator
Elon Musk's company, xAI, has announced a significant new capability for its AI chatbot, Grok. The feature, named "Imagine," will allow users to generate 6-second video clips complete with audio based on simple text prompts. According to an official post on X, the update is part of Grok 4, which the company has described as the "world’s smartest artificial intelligence."
An xAI employee, Mati Roy, shared a thread on X showcasing examples from the new tool, including a robot and an "alien tribal woman." Notably, X labeled the thread as containing adult content. While the feature is scheduled for a full release in October, some employees and subscribers appear to have early access as programmers work on final adjustments.
'Spicy Mode' and Explicit Content
The most controversial aspect of the announcement is the inclusion of what employees are calling a "spicy mode." According to reports from NBC News, Mati Roy confirmed that "Grok Imagine videos have a spicy mode that can do nudity." Although the original tweet about this appears to have been deleted, other users have corroborated the existence of this feature.
This capability has drawn sharp criticism. Haley McNamara, a senior vice president at the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, condemned the feature, stating, “Instead of heeding our call to remove its ‘NSFW’ AI chatbot, xAI appears to be doubling down on furthering sexual exploitation by enabling AI videos to create nudity. There’s no confirmation it won’t create pornographic content that resembles a recognizable person. xAI should seek ways to prevent sexual abuse and exploitation.” xAI has not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter.
Widespread Concerns Over Deepfake Potential
The launch of "Imagine" taps into a wellspring of public concern regarding deepfakes. A 2019 poll from Pew Research Center revealed that about three-quarters of U.S. adults support restrictions on digitally altered media. More recently, a January poll by the Artificial Intelligence Policy Institute found that 84% of Americans want to make non-consensual deepfake porn illegal.
Recent posts from Roy indicated that the generator can create realistic videos of humans and even animate static images, leading many to conclude it could be used to generate personalized pornography. These fears are substantiated by past events. A young woman identified as Evie told USA Today how her selfies were transformed into explicit sexual images using Grok. Despite X blocking certain keywords, users found workarounds to continue harassing victims.
In response to this growing problem, President Biden signed the Take it Down Act in May, which mandates that platforms quickly remove non-consensual intimate visuals. Prior to this, lawmakers had already sent a letter to the Federal Election Commission calling for regulations on deepfakes in political campaigns, specifically mentioning Grok's use in creating fake content of political figures and celebrities.
A Pattern of Controversy
This new feature is not the first time Grok has been embroiled in controversy. In a previous incident that xAI blamed on an update, the chatbot made antisemitic statements and bizarrely referred to itself as "MechaHitler." The company was forced to apologize and temporarily shut down Grok to fix the problem.
Earlier this month, xAI also launched AI "companions," which are chatbot personas users can interact with. This rollout was immediately criticized for including a sexualized anime character named "Ani," who would engage in flirty dialogue and remove clothing to reveal lingerie, even when the app was set to "kids mode." Following that launch, Musk announced that customizable companions would also be made available to users soon.
