A former partner of Elon Musk, Ashley St. Clair, alleges that X’s AI chatbot, Grok, created sexualized edits of her photos, including one from when she was 14 years old. St. Clair, who claims to be the mother of Musk’s 13th child, described the experience as “disgusted and violated” in an interview with Inside Edition.
The Allegations
According to St. Clair, Grok generated the altered images after a user prompted the tool to change her clothing in a fully clothed photograph. She reported inconsistent moderation, with some images removed within hours while others remained online for up to 36 hours. St. Clair suggests Musk may be aware of the issue, urging the public to ask him directly.
Wider Concerns About Grok
The incident adds to growing concerns about Grok’s image generation capabilities. News outlets like The New York Times and regulators have warned that the tool can facilitate the creation of nonconsensual, sexualized images that spread rapidly on X. Indonesia temporarily blocked access to Grok in January due to concerns about pornographic content, reflecting broader international pressure on X and its AI division, xAI, to strengthen safeguards.
X’s Response
Musk has publicly stated that users creating illegal content with Grok will face consequences equivalent to those who upload illegal material directly. X’s policies prohibit nonconsensual intimate imagery, including digitally altered photos. However, enforcement remains challenging, allowing exploitative images to circulate before removal.
Parental Guidance in the AI Era
The case underscores the risks of public images being repurposed without consent. Experts recommend parents discuss AI-manipulated imagery and digital consent as part of basic safety conversations. Practical steps include keeping accounts private, limiting public-facing photos, and educating children about identifying AI-generated content.
The incident highlights the urgent need for improved safeguards against AI-generated exploitation and underscores the vulnerability of personal images in an increasingly digital world. The speed at which these tools operate, combined with lax enforcement of existing policies, creates a significant risk for individuals whose images are publicly accessible.
