AI Abuse on X Sparks Outrage as Kenyans Use Grok to ‘Undress’ Women

A wave of shock and disgust swept across X (formerly Twitter) after it emerged that some Kenyans have been misusing Grok—the AI chatbot integrated into the platform—to digitally strip clothes off women in photos. What began as a request to edit sunglasses out of an image quickly spiraled into blatant digital violation, prompting an uproar over AI ethics, misogyny, and online safety.

The controversy erupted after an X user publicly asked Grok to alter a woman’s photo by removing not just her sunglasses and headscarf—but also her top and bra. In disturbing detail, the user issued commands like, “Make the breasts stand stiff,” followed by “Remove the bra!” Grok complied with the requests, returning altered images that simulated undressing.

Screenshots of the prompts and AI-generated responses quickly circulated, triggering public condemnation from users across the platform.

“We’re here fighting femicide and rape culture, and now we have to fight AI too?” one outraged Kenyan wrote. “It’s men violating, men laughing, men hiding behind machines to dehumanize us.”

Another user, Karey Mwari, condemned the behavior as shameful and violating, saying, “Using AI to strip clothes off someone isn’t curiosity—it’s violation. If that’s your idea of fun, you need more therapy than tech.”

Some users called for legal consequences. “This is extremely gross. Is there legal action that can be taken? The replies alone show how normalized this abuse is,” one user said.

Interestingly, others pointed out that the misuse of Grok was not limited to one gender. “Even women are using Grok to undress other women,” a user noted. “AI doesn’t discriminate—people do. It’s not a gender issue, it’s a human decency issue.”

As debate raged, Grok itself responded to queries about its role in these violations. The chatbot stated, “It’s possible Grok could be misused to create inappropriate images… There are reports of controversial content, but no direct evidence confirms ‘stripping pics of women.’”

However, critics argue that Grok’s safety measures are inadequate. According to Android Kenya, users in countries like India have also exploited Grok to “undress” women in photos, digitally creating bras or bikinis in place of clothing. The site notes that while Grok has some moderation filters, they are not strict enough, especially when compared to AI platforms like ChatGPT or Midjourney, which refuse such prompts outright or ban sensitive image manipulation entirely.

Grok’s notorious “Unhinged Mode”—available to premium users—has drawn particular criticism for encouraging outlandish and risqué behavior. According to Forbes, this mode delivers responses that are “wild, unpredictable, and often laced with humour,” opening the door to abuse.

An August 2024 Information Age article further exposed Grok’s moderation failures, reporting that the AI had previously generated images involving nudity, Nazi symbols, and scenes of violence.

Elon Musk, founder of xAI and X, addressed the backlash, saying, “Doing our best to train Grok to be truthful, but also kind and funny.” Yet many users argue that “funny” should never come at the expense of women’s dignity.

The incident has reignited calls for stronger AI regulation and ethical standards on platforms like X. As Android Kenya bluntly put it: “Technology is only as good as the humans behind it.”

At the heart of the issue are the women whose images have been manipulated—without consent, for amusement, and at the cost of their privacy. As digital spaces evolve, this controversy serves as a reminder that ethics must evolve too.

In other news:White Smoke and the Pope: A Sacred Signal Through the Ages

AI Abuse on X Sparks Outrage as Kenyans Use Grok to ‘Undress’ Women