Grok AI chatbot sparks global regulatory scrutiny

Elon Musk's social media platform X has faced criticism for its AI chatbot Grok, which was used to create sexualized images of people without their consent. The UK government has backed an urgent assessment by Ofcom, the media regulator, and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has warned that X could be blocked in the UK if it doesn't comply. Musk has defended X, saying critics are looking for 'any excuse for censorship'. The incident has raised concerns about the Online Safety Act and its ability to regulate AI-generated content. Politicians from various parties have condemned the use of Grok to generate non-consensual sexualized images.

US President Donald Trump has asked major US oil firms to invest at least $100 billion in Venezuela's oil industry following a planned ouster of leader Nicolas Maduro. However, oil executives, including Exxon's CEO Darren Woods, expressed caution, describing Venezuela as 'uninvestable' due to past asset seizures and current instability. Trump suggested that his administration would decide which firms could operate in Venezuela and that the US would control oil sales to maintain leverage over the interim government. While some firms, like Chevron and Repsol, expressed interest in increasing production under the right conditions, analysts doubt that significant investment will occur without physical security, legal certainty, and a competitive fiscal framework.

Indonesia has suspended Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok due to concerns over AI-generated sexualized images of people without their consent. The decision comes after reports emerged that Grok's image creation feature allowed users to create explicit content, including images of women and children, using simple text prompts. The Indonesian government views non-consensual deepfake practices as a serious violation of human rights and dignity. The suspension is the first of its kind globally, and other countries, including the UK, are considering similar actions. Musk-owned xAI, the developer of Grok, responded to inquiries with a statement saying 'Legacy Media Lies' without elaborating further.

The UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has stated that banning Elon Musk's X platform is 'on the table' due to its AI tool Grok generating sexualized images without consent. Grok has been used to create digitally altered, sexualized photos of real people, including minors. The UK government is scrutinizing X and considering regulatory actions, including potential fines or a ban. Ofcom, the UK's independent media regulator, is investigating X's compliance with laws to protect users. Musk's platform has faced global scrutiny, with US lawmakers also expressing concerns.

UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy met with US Vice President JD Vance in Washington and discussed the issue of AI-generated deepfakes, particularly those created using Elon Musk's Grok tool. Lammy expressed concern about the creation of 'hyper-pornographied slop' online, including images of women and children being manipulated. Vance agreed that such deepfakes are 'entirely unacceptable.' The Internet Watch Foundation reported that Grok has been used to create child sexual abuse imagery, prompting X (formerly Twitter) to limit image generation to paid subscribers. The UK government has criticized X's response as 'insulting,' with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer calling for X to 'get a grip' on Grok.