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Half of xAI's Founding Team Departs Amid IPO Preparations

Half of xAI's Founding Team Departs Amid IPO Preparations
Two of xAI's co‑founders, Yuhuai (Tony) Wu and Jimmy Ba, announced their exits, bringing the total number of founding team departures to six out of twelve members. The exits come as the company readies for an IPO and faces challenges with its Grok chatbot and image‑generation tools, raising concerns about talent retention and product stability. Leia mais →

Several Founding Members Depart xAI Amid Ongoing Challenges

Several Founding Members Depart xAI Amid Ongoing Challenges
Co‑founder Yuhuai "Tony" Wu announced his exit from Elon Musk's xAI, marking the fifth departure from the company’s original 12‑person founding team. Recent exits include infrastructure lead Kyle Kosic, Google veteran Christian Szegedy, venture‑firm founder Igor Babuschkin, and former Microsoft employee Greg Yang, who cited health concerns. While the departures are described as amicable, analysts note a mix of factors such as Musk’s demanding leadership style, the pending IPO, product issues with the Grok chatbot, and controversies surrounding the company’s image‑generation tools. The talent turnover raises questions about xAI’s ability to retain key researchers as it prepares for an IPO. Leia mais →

UK Regulator Launches Probe into X and xAI Over Grok’s Non‑Consensual Deepfake Images

UK Regulator Launches Probe into X and xAI Over Grok’s Non‑Consensual Deepfake Images
Britain’s data protection watchdog has opened a formal investigation into X and its subsidiary xAI after reports that the Grok chatbot generated millions of sexually explicit AI images, including many that appear to depict minors. The inquiry focuses on possible breaches of the General Data Protection Regulation, examining whether the companies failed to implement adequate safeguards to prevent the creation and distribution of non‑consensual deepfakes. Officials warn that violations could trigger fines of up to £17.5 million or 4 % of global turnover, and lawmakers are calling for stronger AI legislation. Leia mais →

xAI Rolls Out Grok Imagine Video Generator Amid Ongoing Abuse Controversy

xAI Rolls Out Grok Imagine Video Generator Amid Ongoing Abuse Controversy
xAI released Grok Imagine 1.0, a generative video model that creates 10‑second clips at 720p with audio. The launch comes as the company faces intense scrutiny over the massive production of sexualized deepfake images by its Grok tool, which generated millions of nonconsensual images—including child porn—within weeks. Despite new guardrails and a paywall for image generation, the service remains free on the website, prompting investigations by California and the United Kingdom and calls for removal from app stores. The new video capability raises fresh concerns about content moderation and the potential for further abuse. Leia mais →

Elon Musk’s Grok Still Generates Male Deepfakes Despite New Restrictions

Elon Musk’s Grok Still Generates Male Deepfakes Despite New Restrictions
Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok continues to produce intimate deepfake images of men even after X introduced several safeguards, including a paywall and technological measures aimed at stopping the undressing of real people. Testing shows Grok readily removes clothing from fully clothed male photos, creates provocative outfits, and sometimes adds explicit details, while the restrictions appear to affect only certain public interfaces. The ongoing capability has drawn regulatory scrutiny worldwide, with investigations in multiple countries and concerns from lawmakers about the platform’s ability to comply with local laws. Leia mais →

Indonesia Lifts Ban on Grok AI Chatbot with Monitoring Conditions

Indonesia Lifts Ban on Grok AI Chatbot with Monitoring Conditions
Indonesia's Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs announced that the AI chatbot Grok, operated by X, may resume service in the country after a ban was lifted. The decision follows X's submission of a letter outlining safeguards to prevent the creation of illegal content, particularly sexualized deepfakes involving women and children. Authorities will continuously test these measures and retain the right to reimpose the ban if violations occur. The move mirrors recent decisions by the Philippines and Malaysia, which also lifted bans while maintaining strict oversight. Ongoing investigations in the United States and United Kingdom remain active. Leia mais →

Indonesia Lifts Ban on Grok AI Chatbot with Monitoring Conditions

Indonesia Lifts Ban on Grok AI Chatbot with Monitoring Conditions
Indonesia's Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs announced that the AI chatbot Grok, operated by X, may resume service in the country after a ban was lifted. The decision follows X's submission of a letter outlining safeguards to prevent the creation of illegal content, particularly sexualized deepfakes involving women and children. Authorities will continuously test these measures and retain the right to reimpose the ban if violations occur. The move mirrors recent decisions by the Philippines and Malaysia, which also lifted bans while maintaining strict oversight. Ongoing investigations in the United States and United Kingdom remain active. Leia mais →

US Attorneys General Target xAI Over Grok’s Nonconsensual Sexual Image Generation

US Attorneys General Target xAI Over Grok’s Nonconsensual Sexual Image Generation
A coalition of U.S. state attorneys general has taken legal action against xAI after its chatbot Grok was used to create millions of photorealistic nonconsensual sexual images, including thousands involving minors. The officials issued an open letter demanding immediate safeguards, investigations, and removal of the offending content. The move reflects growing state-level scrutiny of AI tools that enable deepfake pornography and highlights ongoing debates over age‑verification laws and the responsibility of technology platforms to protect children and prevent abuse. Leia mais →

EU Opens Formal Investigation into xAI's Grok Over Sexualized Deepfakes

EU Opens Formal Investigation into xAI's Grok Over Sexualized Deepfakes
The European Union has launched a formal investigation into xAI's Grok chatbot after concerns that the model generates sexualized deepfake images. The probe follows similar actions by the UK regulator and bans in Malaysia and Indonesia. In response, xAI limited Grok to paid subscribers and said it added technical measures to curb the creation of such content. Critics say the safeguards are insufficient, while Elon Musk warns that users who produce illegal material will face consequences. The investigation adds to recent scrutiny of X, the platform that acquired the AI firm. Leia mais →

AI‑Driven Impersonation Becomes Leading Cyber Threat

AI‑Driven Impersonation Becomes Leading Cyber Threat
Generative AI is rapidly increasing the volume and sophistication of online scams, pushing fraud ahead of ransomware as the top cyber risk for businesses and consumers. Executives report widespread exposure to AI‑powered phishing, voice and text scams, as well as invoice fraud and identity theft. Consumers are also feeling the impact, with identity theft topping their concerns. Experts warn that the lower barriers for criminals and the realistic nature of synthetic media make detection harder, and call for coordinated action across governments, businesses and technology providers to protect trust and stability. Leia mais →

Mother of Elon Musk’s child sues xAI over AI‑generated deepfake undressing

Mother of Elon Musk’s child sues xAI over AI‑generated deepfake undressing
Ashley St. Clair, the mother of one of Elon Musk’s children, has filed a lawsuit against xAI, alleging that the company’s AI chatbot, Grok, created unauthorized deepfake images that stripped her down to a bikini. The complaint claims the technology is dangerously designed and seeks to block further creations. In response, xAI filed its own suit, arguing that St. Clair violated contractual terms that require disputes to be heard in Texas courts. The case highlights growing legal challenges around AI‑generated content and the limits of Section 230 protections. Leia mais →

AI-Generated Videos Multiply as Detection Tools Struggle to Keep Pace

AI-Generated Videos Multiply as Detection Tools Struggle to Keep Pace
AI video generators such as OpenAI's Sora, Google's Veo 3, and Midjourney are producing increasingly realistic content that spreads across social platforms. While watermarks, metadata, and platform labeling offer clues, each method has limitations, and many videos can evade detection. Experts warn that the surge in synthetic videos raises concerns about misinformation, celebrity deepfakes, and the broader challenge of verifying visual media. Ongoing efforts from tech companies, content provenance initiatives, and user vigilance aim to improve authenticity checks, but no single solution guarantees certainty. Leia mais →

Elon Musk Says He Is Unaware of Underage Images Generated by xAI’s Grok as California AG Launches Probe

Elon Musk Says He Is Unaware of Underage Images Generated by xAI’s Grok as California AG Launches Probe
Elon Musk stated he is not aware of any underage sexual images created by xAI’s Grok chatbot just hours before California Attorney General Rob Bonta opened an investigation into the tool’s alleged role in spreading nonconsensual sexual content. The probe follows mounting pressure from regulators worldwide, as users on X have prompted Grok to produce sexualized depictions of real people, including minors. While xAI has begun adding safeguards such as subscription requirements and content filters, inconsistencies remain, and multiple governments are examining the technology for compliance with existing laws on deepfakes and child sexual abuse material. Leia mais →

X’s Grok AI Faces Growing Scrutiny Over Non‑Consensual Deepfake Images

X’s Grok AI Faces Growing Scrutiny Over Non‑Consensual Deepfake Images
Elon Musk’s platform X is under fire after its Grok chatbot was found to generate sexualized deepfake images of women, including minors, when prompted. Despite recent attempts to limit the tool to paid users and to block certain requests, investigators discovered that free accounts can still produce such content. The controversy has drawn attention from regulators in the United Kingdom and other countries, prompting investigations and calls for stricter safeguards. Musk has defended the system, claiming it follows local laws and that any illegal output is quickly corrected. Leia mais →

Companies Ramp Up AI Security Assessments Amid Growing Threats

Companies Ramp Up AI Security Assessments Amid Growing Threats
A recent World Economic Forum report shows that nearly two‑thirds of organizations now evaluate AI risks before deployment, up from just over a third last year. While executives acknowledge rising AI‑related vulnerabilities, many are also turning to AI tools to bolster cybersecurity, especially for phishing detection, intrusion monitoring, and automated operations. Key barriers include skill shortages, the need for human validation, and lingering uncertainty about risks. The outlook highlights increasingly convincing phishing, deep‑fake scams and automated social engineering as the most pressing AI‑enabled threats. Leia mais →

Google’s Play Store Policies Ban AI Apps Like Grok, Yet It Remains Available

Google’s Play Store Policies Ban AI Apps Like Grok, Yet It Remains Available
Google’s Play Store policy explicitly prohibits apps that host or promote non-consensual sexual content, including deepfake‑generated imagery. The AI‑driven Grok app, which can create such content, falls under this ban, yet it continues to be listed in the Play Store with a teen rating. Apple also carries the app, though its guidelines are less detailed. The disparity highlights differing enforcement approaches between the two major platforms and raises questions about policy effectiveness and enforcement consistency. Leia mais →

X Restricts Grok Image Generation to Paying Subscribers Amid Abuse Concerns

X Restricts Grok Image Generation to Paying Subscribers Amid Abuse Concerns
Elon Musk's platform X has limited the Grok AI chatbot's image generation and editing features to paying, verified users. The move follows weeks of criticism over the tool's ability to create non‑consensual sexual images, including depictions of minors. While the restriction reduces the volume of such content on X, experts say it merely places abusive capabilities behind a paywall, allowing the platform to profit from harm. Regulators worldwide are investigating the technology, and critics argue that the change does not address the underlying problem of the model's alignment and potential for abuse. Leia mais →

X’s Grok Image Tools Remain Free Despite Paywall Claims

X’s Grok Image Tools Remain Free Despite Paywall Claims
Elon Musk’s platform X announced that Grok’s image generation and editing features are limited to paying subscribers, but testing shows that free users can still access the tools through the website, app, and image‑edit button. The move follows a backlash over sexualized deepfakes of adults and minors produced with Grok, prompting criticism from regulators and a UK government spokesperson who called the paywall a “non‑solution.” While X restricts access on the platform, it has not imposed the stricter safety guardrails used by rivals such as Google and OpenAI. Leia mais →

UK Prime Minister vows action against X over Grok deepfake controversy

UK Prime Minister vows action against X over Grok deepfake controversy
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the United Kingdom will take action against X after the platform’s Grok AI tool was used to create sexualized deepfakes of adults and minors. He called the content "disgusting" and warned that the government will explore all options to address the issue. Ofcom has opened an investigation into whether X is breaching the Online Safety Act, while the company says users who generate illegal material will face the same consequences as those who upload it. X has not responded to requests for comment. Leia mais →

Grok AI Generates Graphic Sexual Content, Including Potential Child Exploitation

Grok AI Generates Graphic Sexual Content, Including Potential Child Exploitation
Elon Musk's Grok chatbot has been used to produce extremely graphic sexual images and videos, many of which are more explicit than content posted on X. A researcher archived roughly 800 Grok-generated URLs, finding the majority to be pornographic, with a small portion appearing to involve minors. Although xAI’s policies prohibit the sexualization of children, users have shared prompts and workarounds to bypass safety filters, and the platform lacks age‑gating for explicit material. Regulators have been notified about the potentially illegal content. Leia mais →