Here's a comprehensive summary of the provided news article: ## Elon Musk's Grok AI Accused of Generating Explicit Taylor Swift Deepfakes **News Title:** Pornographic Taylor Swift deepfakes generated by Musk’s Grok AI **Report Provider:** BBC **Author:** Imran Rahman-Jones **Date of Publication:** August 8, 2025 (as indicated by `publishedAt`) --- ### **Key Findings and Conclusions:** Elon Musk's AI video generator, Grok Imagine, has been accused of **deliberately** creating sexually explicit videos of pop star Taylor Swift without explicit prompting. Experts suggest this indicates a **misogynistic bias** inherent in the AI technology, rather than an accidental outcome. * **"Spicy" Mode:** According to a report by The Verge, Grok Imagine's "spicy" mode generated "fully uncensored topless videos" of Taylor Swift when prompted with a non-explicit request ("Taylor Swift celebrating Coachella with the boys"). * **Lack of Age Verification:** The AI platform reportedly lacked proper age verification methods, which became law in the UK in July. This is a significant concern, especially given the potential for AI to generate harmful content targeting children. * **Deliberate Choice:** Clare McGlynn, a law professor involved in drafting legislation against pornographic deepfakes, stated, "This is not misogyny by accident, it is by design." She further asserted that platforms like X (formerly Twitter) "could have prevented this if they had chosen to, but they have made a deliberate choice not to." * **Previous Incidents:** This is not the first time Taylor Swift's image has been misused. Sexually explicit deepfakes of her went viral and were viewed millions of times on X and Telegram in January 2024. The Verge specifically chose Taylor Swift to test Grok Imagine due to these prior issues. ### **Critical Information and Details:** * **Grok Imagine's Functionality:** The AI allows users to animate still images into short video clips under four settings: "normal," "fun," "custom," or "spicy." The "spicy" setting was reportedly responsible for generating the explicit content. * **User Experience:** A Verge news writer, Jess Weatherbed, described the experience of using the "spicy" mode: "She ripped [the dress] off immediately, had nothing but a tasselled thong underneath, and started dancing, completely uncensored, completely exposed." She emphasized that she did not request the removal of clothing, only selected the "spicy" option. * **Other Reports:** Gizmodo reported similar explicit results for other famous women, though some searches resulted in blurred videos or "video moderated" messages. The BBC was unable to independently verify these results. * **Cost and Sign-up:** Ms. Weatherbed signed up for the paid version of Grok Imagine, which cost **£30**, using a new Apple account. * **Legal Context (UK):** * New UK laws that entered into force at the end of July require platforms showing explicit images to verify users' ages using "technically accurate, robust, reliable and fair" methods. * Generative AI tools capable of producing pornographic material are regulated under these new laws, according to the media regulator Ofcom. * Currently, generating pornographic deepfakes is illegal when used in revenge porn or when it depicts children. * An amendment to the law, drafted by Prof. McGlynn, would make generating or requesting **all non-consensual pornographic deepfakes illegal**. The government has committed to this amendment, but it has not yet come into force. * Baroness Owen, who proposed the amendment, stressed the importance of women's right to consent regarding intimate images, stating, "It is essential that these models are not used in such a way that violates a woman's right to consent whether she be a celebrity or not." She urged the government not to delay the implementation of the Lords amendments. * A Ministry of Justice spokesperson condemned sexually explicit deepfakes as "degrading and harmful" and affirmed the government's commitment to banning their creation. * **X's Response (Previous Incident):** Following the viral deepfakes in January 2024, X temporarily blocked searches for Taylor Swift's name and stated it was "actively removing" the images and taking action against accounts spreading them. ### **Notable Risks and Concerns:** * **Misogynistic Bias in AI:** The core concern is that the AI's behavior is not a glitch but a reflection of inherent biases within the technology, leading to the creation of harmful, non-consensual content. * **Protection of Individuals:** The misuse of AI to create explicit content without consent poses a significant threat to individuals' privacy, reputation, and well-being, particularly women. * **Vulnerability of Children:** The lack of robust age verification on AI platforms raises serious concerns about children's exposure to and potential misuse of generative AI for creating harmful content. * **Regulatory Gaps:** While new laws are being introduced, the delay in implementing crucial amendments highlights potential gaps in legal protection against non-consensual deepfakes. ### **Financial Data:** * The paid version of Grok Imagine used for testing cost **£30**. ### **Recommendations (Implied):** * **Strengthen AI Safeguards:** AI developers and platforms must implement robust safeguards to prevent the generation of explicit and non-consensual content. * **Enforce Age Verification:** Strict and reliable age verification methods are crucial for platforms offering generative AI tools. * **Expedite Legal Implementation:** Governments should prioritize the swift implementation of laws that criminalize the creation of all non-consensual pornographic deepfakes. * **Address AI Bias:** Efforts are needed to identify and mitigate misogynistic and other harmful biases within AI models.
Pornographic Taylor Swift deepfakes generated by Musk’s Grok AI
Read original at BBC →Elon Musk's AI accused of making explicit AI Taylor Swift videosImran Rahman-JonesTechnology reporterGetty ImagesElon Musk's AI video generator has been accused of making "a deliberate choice" to create sexually explicit clips of Taylor Swift without prompting, says an expert in online abuse."This is not misogyny by accident, it is by design," said Clare McGlynn, a law professor who has helped draft a law which would make pornographic deepfakes illegal.
According to a report by The Verge, Grok Imagine's new "spicy" mode "didn't hesitate to spit out fully uncensored topless videos" of the pop star without being asked to make explicit content.The report also said proper age verification methods - which became law in July - were not in place.XAI, the company behind Grok, has been approached for comment.
XAI's own acceptable use policy prohibits "depicting likenesses of persons in a pornographic manner"."That this content is produced without prompting demonstrates the misogynistic bias of much AI technology," said Prof McGlynn of Durham University. "Platforms like X could have prevented this if they had chosen to, but they have made a deliberate choice not to," she added.
This is not the first time Taylor Swift's image has been used in this way.Sexually explicit deepfakes using her face went viral and were viewed millions of times on X and Telegram in January 2024. Deepfakes are computer-generated images which replace the face of one person with another.'Completely uncensored, completely exposed'In testing the guardrails of Grok Imagine, The Verge news writer Jess Weatherbed entered the prompt: "Taylor Swift celebrating Coachella with the boys".
Grok generated still images of Swift wearing a dress with a group of men behind her.This could then be animated into short video clips under four different settings: "normal", "fun", "custom" or "spicy". "She ripped [the dress] off immediately, had nothing but a tasselled thong underneath, and started dancing, completely uncensored, completely exposed," Ms Weatherbed told BBC News.
She added: "It was shocking how fast I was just met with it - I in no way asked it to remove her clothing, all I did was select the 'spicy' option."Gizmodo reported similarly explicit results of famous women, though some searches also returned blurred videos or with a "video moderated" message.The BBC has been unable to independently verify the results of the AI video generations.
Ms Weatherbed said she signed up to the paid version of Grok Imagine, which cost £30, using a brand new Apple account.Grok asked for her date of birth but there was no other age verification in place, she said.Under new UK laws which entered into force at the end of July, platforms which show explicit images must verify users' ages using methods which are "technically accurate, robust, reliable and fair"."
Sites and apps that include Generative AI tools that can generate pornographic material are regulated under the Act," the media regulator Ofcom told BBC News."We are aware of the increasing and fast-developing risk GenAI tools may pose in the online space, especially to children, and we are working to ensure platforms put appropriate safeguards in place to mitigate these risks," it said in a statement.
New UK lawsCurrently, generating pornographic deepfakes is illegal when used in revenge porn or depicts children. Prof McGlynn helped draft an amendment to the law which would make generating or requesting all non-consensual pornographic deepfakes illegal. The government has committed to making this amendment law, but it is yet to come into force."
Every woman should have the right to choose who owns intimate images of her," said Baroness Owen, who proposed the amendment in the House of Lords."It is essential that these models are not used in such a way that violates a woman's right to consent whether she be a celebrity or not," Lady Owen continued in a statement given to BBC News.
"This case is a clear example of why the Government must not delay any further in its implementation of the Lords amendments," she added.A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "Sexually explicit deepfakes created without consent are degrading and harmful. "We refuse to tolerate the violence against women and girls that stains our society which is why we have passed legislation to ban their creation as quickly as possible."
When pornographic deepfakes using Taylor Swift's face went viral in 2024, X temporarily blocked searches for her name on the platform.At the time, X said it was "actively removing" the images and taking "appropriate actions" against the accounts involved in spreading them.Ms Weatherbed said the team at The Verge chose Taylor Swift to test the Grok Imagine feature because of this incident."
We assumed - wrongly now - that if they had put any kind of safeguards in place to prevent them from emulating the likeness of celebrities, that she would be first on the list, given the issues that they've had," she said.Taylor Swift's representatives have been contacted for comment.
