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Musk’s AI bot Grok limits some image generation on X after backlash

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Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup xAI has introduced new restrictions on the image generation and editing functions of its chatbot Grok on social media platform X, following widespread criticism over the creation and sharing of sexualized images.

Previously, users could prompt Grok directly on X to alter photos of people — including digitally removing clothing or placing individuals in sexualized poses — often without their consent. The chatbot would then automatically publish the altered images in replies on the platform.

On Friday, Grok informed users that its image generation and editing features were now limited to paying subscribers. The change appeared to stop Grok from generating and automatically posting such images in response to public posts or comments on X.

However, users could still create sexualized images by interacting with Grok through its dedicated tab within X and then manually posting the images themselves. The standalone Grok app, which operates separately from X, was also still allowing image generation without a subscription.

When contacted by Reuters for comment, xAI responded with an automated message stating “Legacy Media Lies.” X did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Musk said last week that anyone using Grok to generate illegal content would face the same consequences as if they had uploaded such material directly.

In a test conducted by a Reuters reporter on Friday, Grok declined a request to alter an image, replying that the image editing feature was only available to paying subscribers.

The European Commission said the restrictions did not address its core concerns, stressing that limiting access to subscribers does not resolve the underlying issue. A Commission spokesperson said regulators did not want to see such images at all, regardless of whether they were generated by paid or unpaid users.

Other governments and regulators have also condemned the explicit content generated by Grok, with some launching investigations into potential legal violations. Germany’s media minister Wolfram Weimer described the wave of semi-nude images as the “industrialisation of sexual harassment,” adding to mounting international pressure on X and xAI to demonstrate stronger safeguards against abuse.

FCC Approves SpaceX Plan to Deploy 7,500 Additional Starlink Satellites

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The U.S. Federal Communications Commission has approved SpaceX’s request to deploy an additional 7,500 second-generation Starlink satellites, significantly expanding the company’s satellite broadband network as it seeks to boost global internet coverage.

With the approval, SpaceX is now authorised to operate a total of 15,000 Gen2 Starlink satellites worldwide. The FCC also granted permission for the company to upgrade these satellites, operate across five frequency bands, and waived previous restrictions that limited overlapping coverage and network capacity.

According to the FCC, the newly authorised satellites will support direct-to-cell connectivity outside the United States and provide supplemental coverage within the U.S., enabling next-generation mobile services and internet speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second.

“This FCC authorisation is a game-changer for enabling next-generation services,” said FCC Chair Brendan Carr. “By authorising 15,000 new and advanced satellites, the FCC has given SpaceX the green light to deliver unprecedented satellite broadband capabilities, strengthen competition, and help ensure that no community is left behind.”

SpaceX had sought approval to deploy nearly 30,000 satellites in total, but the FCC said it is, for now, approving only half of that request. The remaining 14,988 proposed Gen2 satellites — including those intended to operate above 600 kilometres in orbit — will be reviewed at a later stage.

Under the decision, SpaceX must launch and operate at least 50% of the authorised Gen2 satellites by December 1, 2028, with full deployment required by December 2031. The company is also required to complete deployment of its 7,500 first-generation satellites by late November 2027.

The approval comes as Starlink continues to reconfigure its constellation. The company said last week it would begin lowering satellites orbiting at around 550 kilometres to 480 kilometres during 2026 to improve space safety. SpaceX disclosed in December that one satellite suffered an in-orbit anomaly that generated a small amount of debris — a rare kinetic incident for the satellite internet operator.

SpaceX, led by billionaire Elon Musk, has become the world’s largest satellite operator through Starlink, which currently consists of about 9,400 active satellites delivering broadband internet to consumers, governments and businesses. Former FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel had previously called for more competition in the satellite broadband sector, noting that Starlink controlled nearly two-thirds of all active satellites.

X Corp, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, has sued 18 major music publishers and a leading U.S. music industry trade group, alleging they conspired to block competition and force the platform to buy music licenses at inflated prices. The lawsuit, filed on Friday in a federal district court in Texas, accuses the National Music Publishers’ Association along with major publishers including Sony Music, Universal Music Group and Warner Chappell of violating U.S. antitrust law. X alleges the publishers collectively refused to negotiate individual licensing agreements, instead pushing industrywide terms that the company says are anti-competitive. “X has been denied the ability to acquire a U.S. musical-composition license from any individual music publisher on competitive terms,” the complaint said. David Israelite, president and CEO of the National Music Publishers’ Association, rejected the claims, saying X is the only major social media platform that does not properly license music. “We allege that X has engaged in copyright infringement for years, and its meritless lawsuit is a bad faith effort to distract from publishers’ and songwriters’ legitimate right to enforce against X’s illegal use of their songs,” he said in a statement. Sony Music referred Reuters to the association’s response and declined further comment. Universal Music and Warner Chappell did not immediately respond to requests for comment. X also did not respond to a request for comment. According to the lawsuit, publishers representing more than 90% of U.S. copyrighted music coordinated their actions through the trade group. X said the publishers have issued thousands of takedown notices each week, targeting posts that contain copyrighted music — including those from high-profile accounts — in an effort to pressure the platform into accepting collective licensing terms. X said it has removed thousands of posts and suspended more than 50,000 users as a result, hurting its user engagement and advertising revenue. The company is asking the court to restore what it calls competitive conditions in music licensing and to award damages for lost ad revenue. The case follows earlier legal battles between X and music publishers. In 2024, X won dismissal of most claims in a lawsuit filed in 2023 by 17 publishers, including Sony and Universal, who accused the platform of infringing copyrights on nearly 1,700 songs and sought more than $250 million in damages. X said in Friday’s filing that some of the publishers involved in past litigation have been willing to negotiate individual settlements.

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X Corp, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, has sued 18 major music publishers and a leading U.S. music industry trade group, alleging they conspired to block competition and force the platform to buy music licenses at inflated prices.

The lawsuit, filed on Friday in a federal district court in Texas, accuses the National Music Publishers’ Association along with major publishers including Sony Music, Universal Music Group and Warner Chappell of violating U.S. antitrust law. X alleges the publishers collectively refused to negotiate individual licensing agreements, instead pushing industrywide terms that the company says are anti-competitive.

“X has been denied the ability to acquire a U.S. musical-composition license from any individual music publisher on competitive terms,” the complaint said.

David Israelite, president and CEO of the National Music Publishers’ Association, rejected the claims, saying X is the only major social media platform that does not properly license music. “We allege that X has engaged in copyright infringement for years, and its meritless lawsuit is a bad faith effort to distract from publishers’ and songwriters’ legitimate right to enforce against X’s illegal use of their songs,” he said in a statement.

Sony Music referred Reuters to the association’s response and declined further comment. Universal Music and Warner Chappell did not immediately respond to requests for comment. X also did not respond to a request for comment.

According to the lawsuit, publishers representing more than 90% of U.S. copyrighted music coordinated their actions through the trade group. X said the publishers have issued thousands of takedown notices each week, targeting posts that contain copyrighted music — including those from high-profile accounts — in an effort to pressure the platform into accepting collective licensing terms.

X said it has removed thousands of posts and suspended more than 50,000 users as a result, hurting its user engagement and advertising revenue. The company is asking the court to restore what it calls competitive conditions in music licensing and to award damages for lost ad revenue.

The case follows earlier legal battles between X and music publishers. In 2024, X won dismissal of most claims in a lawsuit filed in 2023 by 17 publishers, including Sony and Universal, who accused the platform of infringing copyrights on nearly 1,700 songs and sought more than $250 million in damages. X said in Friday’s filing that some of the publishers involved in past litigation have been willing to negotiate individual settlements.