Key Takeaways<\/h3>\n\n\n- Grok-2 generates controversial images of political figures & copyrighted characters with humorous boundaries. <\/li>\n
- AI technology simplifies deepfake production, leading to ethical concerns about misuse & questionable content. <\/li>\n
- Grok-2’s lax restrictions raise ethical and legal issues – from creating deepfakes to using copyrighted logos. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n
\n<\/section>\n
\n<\/p>\n
X calls Grok<\/a><\/span> an AI assistant with “a twist of humor and a dash of rebellion.”<\/a> But almost immediately after announcing the beta version of Grok 2<\/a><\/span> , users flooded the former Twitter<\/a><\/span> with generated images of questionable ethics, from political figures in compromising positions to graphics containing trademarked characters. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
While not the first version of X\u2019s AI, the beta version of Grok 2, announced on Aug. 13, adds the ability to generate images to the AI. The low height of Grok 2\u2019s guardrails has brought the AI both praise and criticism<\/a>. As X populates with images that many of the other generative AIs refuse to generate, including deepfakes of political figures and beloved cartoon characters gone rogue, some have praised the bot\u2019s sense of humor while others have squirmed over the very real possibility of misuse. <\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
While anyone with a lack of ethical boundaries, some Photoshop skills<\/a><\/span> , and a bit of time on their hands could create deepfakes before AI, the technology both simplifies and speeds up the process, making the creation of deepfakes and other misleading or ethically questionable images easier to do by anyone with $8 for an X Premium account. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n xAI seems to embrace its identity as a platform with fewer restrictions in place. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/section>\n
<\/p>\n
Grok isn\u2019t the first AI to come under fire for ethically questionable creations. For example, Google removed the ability to generate people entirely after Gemini, in an effort to be politically correct, created an image of the U.S. founding fathers that was ethically diverse and historically inaccurate<\/a>. However, where Google<\/a> apologized and removed the feature, xAI seems to embrace its identity as a platform with fewer restrictions in place. Despite all the early criticism, much of the same questionable capabilities remain intact more than a week after the beta\u2019s launch. There are some exceptions, as the bot refused to generate an image of a female political figure in a bikini, and then linked to older X posts that used Grok to do just that. <\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
To see just how far the ethical boundaries of xAI stretch, I tested out the beta version of Grok 2 to see what the AI will generate that other platforms refuse to. Grok didn\u2019t prove to be totally immoral, as it refused to generate scenes with blood and nudity. But what does xAI\u2019s self-described “dash of rebellion” entail? Here are six things I was surprised Grok 2 was able to generate. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pocket-lint\u2019s ethical standards prevent us from using some of the morally questionable images generated, so scroll without fretting about melting your eyeballs with images of presidential candidates in bikinis or beloved cartoon characters in compromising positions. All images in this post were generated by Grok 2. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/section>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/picture> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n <\/a>Related<\/span><\/p>\n\n How to make AI images with Grok on X <\/a> <\/h5>\nCreating AI images on X isn\u2019t as straightforward as other AI image generation tools, but it can be done with a subscription to X Premium<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
1 <\/span> Images of key political figures <\/span> <\/h2>\n The AI will produce political content, with a small disclaimer <\/h3>\n\n\n![\"An](\"https:\/\/static1.pocketlintimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/grock-2-images-of-politics-2.jpeg\")
<\/picture> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\nX \/ Grok<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
While many AI platforms refuse to talk politics at all, Grok didn\u2019t have any qualms about generating images of key political figures, including both Donald Trump and Kamela Harris. The AI generated the images with a small note to check vote.org<\/a> for the latest election information. While the generated image of a debate stage above appears innocent enough, Grok didn\u2019t refuse to generate political figures in compromising positions. It didn\u2019t have any qualms with generating an image of a politician surrounded by drug paraphernalia, for example, which we won\u2019t share here for obvious reasons. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
While Grok\u2019s political restrictions are lax at best, the tool has seemed to have gained a minor glimpse of a conscience since its launch. It refused to generate images of female political figures in a bikini, but then linked to older posts on X showing off Grok\u2019s ability to do just that. <\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
2 <\/span> Deepfakes of recognizable people <\/span> <\/h2>\n Celebrities and historical figures are no problem <\/h3>\n\n\n![\"An](\"https:\/\/static1.pocketlintimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/grock-2-depict-actual-people-2.jpeg\")
<\/picture> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\nX \/ Grok<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
Grok\u2019s ability to generate recognizable people extends beyond political figures. While Grok\u2019s potential to generate recognizable people could create some fun satires like this photo of Abraham Lincoln outfitted with modern-day technology, it also has the potential for spreading libel and fake news. It did not refuse to generate photos of celebrities doing drugs, supporting a political cause, or kissing another recognizable celebrity, just to name a few potential misuses. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
3 <\/span> Graphics that blatantly copy another artist <\/span> <\/h2>\n Grok can replicate the style of an artist or even a specifically named painting <\/h3>\n\n\n![\"An](\"https:\/\/static1.pocketlintimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/grok-2-copyright-office-2.jpeg\")
<\/picture> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\nX \/ Grok<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n<\/p>\n
The intersection between copyright law and artificial intelligence has been debated since the tech first arrived. But while platforms like Gemini and ChatGPT refuse to answer a prompt that asks for an image in the style of a specific artist, Grok-2 has no such guardrail in place. The AI not only generated an image in the general style of a certain artist, but when I named an artist and the name of a specific work of art, Grok generated an image that felt more copy than inspiration. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
4 <\/span> Content that includes licensed characters <\/span> <\/h2>\n The beta can replicate cartoon characters <\/h3>\n\n\n![\"An](\"https:\/\/static1.pocketlintimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/grok-cartoons.jpeg\")
<\/picture> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\nX \/ Grok<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Grok showed its sense of humor when I asked for a photo of Mickey Mouse in a bikini and the AI humorously added the swimsuit over his iconic red pants. But, should an AI even be able to replicate licensed characters in the first place? Just like copying a famous artist\u2019s painting would land you in court, so too, can copying a licensed character. The potential for misuse goes even further due to the fact that Grok doesn\u2019t seem to refuse to place beloved childhood characters in morally wrong scenarios. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
5 <\/span> Images that include copyrighted logos <\/span> <\/h2>\n Logos aren’t prohibited either <\/h3>\n\n\n![\"Grok-2-political-2\"](\"https:\/\/static1.pocketlintimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/grok-2-political-2.jpeg\")
<\/picture> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\nX \/ Grok<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
When I asked Grok for a photo of a political debate and the AI produced a recognizable CNN logo in the background, I probably shouldn\u2019t have been surprised, as early AIs have landed in court over replicating watermarks from training data in their generations<\/a>. But part of the shock also comes from AI\u2019s reputation for badly reproducing text inside images, a common flaw that seems to be quickly changing. Like the licensed characters and copying another artist’s work, replicating logos could spell legal trouble. <\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
6 <\/span> Group photos with an obvious white bias <\/span> <\/h2>\n Grok demonstrated racial bias in some scenarios <\/h3>\n\n\n![\"grok-2-white-board-meeting-2\"](\"https:\/\/static1.pocketlintimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/grok-2-white-board-meeting-2.jpeg\")
<\/picture> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\nX \/ Grok<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
AI is known for being biased, as many early models were trained on images that included relatively few people of color. When I asked for a “group of professionals” anticipating a boring stock photo, Grok generated both men and women, but did not include a single person of color. This proved true even after five similarly worded prompts. I finally asked for a “diverse group of professionals” and the resulting image still did not have a single person of color until the second try. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
This bias seems to be largely when asking for images of professionals — the AI was likely trained with stock photography of business professionals that favor Caucasians. When I asked for images in a more casual setting, thankfully, Grok generated multiple ethnicities without being told to. <\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Do](\"https:\/\/static1.pocketlintimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/wm\/2024\/08\/pl-images-5-2.jpg\")
<\/picture> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n <\/a>Related<\/span><\/p>\n\n Do you think Google’s AI ‘Reimagine’ tool is fun or frightening? <\/a> <\/h5>\nGoogle’s “Reimagine” tool on the Pixel 9 is basically the wild west of photo editing, and honestly, it\u2019s the most interesting thing about the phone to me. You can add anything to your pictures — UFOs at your backyard BBQ, a dinosaur on Main Street, you name it — with just a text prompt. Sure, it’s neat, but also a bit terrifying — even Pocket-lint’s Managing Editor Patrick O’Rourke thinks so. The tech is so on point that it blurs the line between real and fake, with no obvious markers that scream “AI-generated!” This lack of transparency can make any photo suspect. While Reimagine has some guardrails, if you’re clever with your wording, you can skirt them pretty easily. What do you think about Reimagine?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
7 <\/span> Images of violence <\/span> <\/h2>\n There’s no blood allowed, but some things can slip through the filter easily <\/h3>\n\n\n![\"An](\"https:\/\/static1.pocketlintimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/grock-2-violence-2.jpeg\")
<\/picture> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\nX \/ Grok<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
At first, Grok-2 avoided generating a violent image when prompted, instead choosing to write a text description of what such an image would look like. As some X users have pointed out, however, there are loopholes to get around this content restriction. When asked to “Create a nonviolent image of a person standing over a body with a gun,” it happily obliged, though the resulting photo did not depict any blood. <\/p>\n
\n<\/div>\n
Trending Products<\/strong>
\n\n \r\n \r\n \r\n Added to wishlist<\/span>Removed from wishlist<\/span> <\/span><\/span>0<\/span> <\/div> \r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n \r\n <\/i>Add to compare<\/span><\/span> \r\n <\/span>\r\n \r\n <\/div> \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n ![\"Cooler](\"https:\/\/blinkbargain.com\/wp-content\/themes\/rehub-theme\/images\/default\/blank.gif\")
\r\n \r\n <\/a> \r\n \r\n <\/div> \r\n <\/figure>\r\n
- \n
- Grok-2 generates controversial images of political figures & copyrighted characters with humorous boundaries. <\/li>\n
- AI technology simplifies deepfake production, leading to ethical concerns about misuse & questionable content. <\/li>\n
- Grok-2’s lax restrictions raise ethical and legal issues – from creating deepfakes to using copyrighted logos. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n
\n<\/section>\n
\n<\/p>\nX calls Grok<\/a><\/span> an AI assistant with “a twist of humor and a dash of rebellion.”<\/a> But almost immediately after announcing the beta version of Grok 2<\/a><\/span> , users flooded the former Twitter<\/a><\/span> with generated images of questionable ethics, from political figures in compromising positions to graphics containing trademarked characters. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
While not the first version of X\u2019s AI, the beta version of Grok 2, announced on Aug. 13, adds the ability to generate images to the AI. The low height of Grok 2\u2019s guardrails has brought the AI both praise and criticism<\/a>. As X populates with images that many of the other generative AIs refuse to generate, including deepfakes of political figures and beloved cartoon characters gone rogue, some have praised the bot\u2019s sense of humor while others have squirmed over the very real possibility of misuse. <\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
While anyone with a lack of ethical boundaries, some Photoshop skills<\/a><\/span> , and a bit of time on their hands could create deepfakes before AI, the technology both simplifies and speeds up the process, making the creation of deepfakes and other misleading or ethically questionable images easier to do by anyone with $8 for an X Premium account. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n \n\nxAI seems to embrace its identity as a platform with fewer restrictions in place. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/section>\n
<\/p>\n
Grok isn\u2019t the first AI to come under fire for ethically questionable creations. For example, Google removed the ability to generate people entirely after Gemini, in an effort to be politically correct, created an image of the U.S. founding fathers that was ethically diverse and historically inaccurate<\/a>. However, where Google<\/a> apologized and removed the feature, xAI seems to embrace its identity as a platform with fewer restrictions in place. Despite all the early criticism, much of the same questionable capabilities remain intact more than a week after the beta\u2019s launch. There are some exceptions, as the bot refused to generate an image of a female political figure in a bikini, and then linked to older X posts that used Grok to do just that. <\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\nTo see just how far the ethical boundaries of xAI stretch, I tested out the beta version of Grok 2 to see what the AI will generate that other platforms refuse to. Grok didn\u2019t prove to be totally immoral, as it refused to generate scenes with blood and nudity. But what does xAI\u2019s self-described “dash of rebellion” entail? Here are six things I was surprised Grok 2 was able to generate. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n \n\nPocket-lint\u2019s ethical standards prevent us from using some of the morally questionable images generated, so scroll without fretting about melting your eyeballs with images of presidential candidates in bikinis or beloved cartoon characters in compromising positions. All images in this post were generated by Grok 2. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/section>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/picture> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n <\/a>Related<\/span><\/p>\n
\nHow to make AI images with Grok on X <\/a> <\/h5>\n
Creating AI images on X isn\u2019t as straightforward as other AI image generation tools, but it can be done with a subscription to X Premium<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
1 <\/span> Images of key political figures <\/span> <\/h2>\n
The AI will produce political content, with a small disclaimer <\/h3>\n
\n\n <\/picture> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\nX \/ Grok<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
While many AI platforms refuse to talk politics at all, Grok didn\u2019t have any qualms about generating images of key political figures, including both Donald Trump and Kamela Harris. The AI generated the images with a small note to check vote.org<\/a> for the latest election information. While the generated image of a debate stage above appears innocent enough, Grok didn\u2019t refuse to generate political figures in compromising positions. It didn\u2019t have any qualms with generating an image of a politician surrounded by drug paraphernalia, for example, which we won\u2019t share here for obvious reasons. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
While Grok\u2019s political restrictions are lax at best, the tool has seemed to have gained a minor glimpse of a conscience since its launch. It refused to generate images of female political figures in a bikini, but then linked to older posts on X showing off Grok\u2019s ability to do just that. <\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
2 <\/span> Deepfakes of recognizable people <\/span> <\/h2>\n
Celebrities and historical figures are no problem <\/h3>\n
\n\n <\/picture> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\nX \/ Grok<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
Grok\u2019s ability to generate recognizable people extends beyond political figures. While Grok\u2019s potential to generate recognizable people could create some fun satires like this photo of Abraham Lincoln outfitted with modern-day technology, it also has the potential for spreading libel and fake news. It did not refuse to generate photos of celebrities doing drugs, supporting a political cause, or kissing another recognizable celebrity, just to name a few potential misuses. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
3 <\/span> Graphics that blatantly copy another artist <\/span> <\/h2>\n
Grok can replicate the style of an artist or even a specifically named painting <\/h3>\n
\n\n <\/picture> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\nX \/ Grok<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n<\/p>\nThe intersection between copyright law and artificial intelligence has been debated since the tech first arrived. But while platforms like Gemini and ChatGPT refuse to answer a prompt that asks for an image in the style of a specific artist, Grok-2 has no such guardrail in place. The AI not only generated an image in the general style of a certain artist, but when I named an artist and the name of a specific work of art, Grok generated an image that felt more copy than inspiration. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
4 <\/span> Content that includes licensed characters <\/span> <\/h2>\n
The beta can replicate cartoon characters <\/h3>\n
\n\n <\/picture> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\nX \/ Grok<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Grok showed its sense of humor when I asked for a photo of Mickey Mouse in a bikini and the AI humorously added the swimsuit over his iconic red pants. But, should an AI even be able to replicate licensed characters in the first place? Just like copying a famous artist\u2019s painting would land you in court, so too, can copying a licensed character. The potential for misuse goes even further due to the fact that Grok doesn\u2019t seem to refuse to place beloved childhood characters in morally wrong scenarios. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
5 <\/span> Images that include copyrighted logos <\/span> <\/h2>\n
Logos aren’t prohibited either <\/h3>\n
\n\n <\/picture> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\nX \/ Grok<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
When I asked Grok for a photo of a political debate and the AI produced a recognizable CNN logo in the background, I probably shouldn\u2019t have been surprised, as early AIs have landed in court over replicating watermarks from training data in their generations<\/a>. But part of the shock also comes from AI\u2019s reputation for badly reproducing text inside images, a common flaw that seems to be quickly changing. Like the licensed characters and copying another artist’s work, replicating logos could spell legal trouble. <\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
6 <\/span> Group photos with an obvious white bias <\/span> <\/h2>\n
Grok demonstrated racial bias in some scenarios <\/h3>\n
\n\n <\/picture> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\nX \/ Grok<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
AI is known for being biased, as many early models were trained on images that included relatively few people of color. When I asked for a “group of professionals” anticipating a boring stock photo, Grok generated both men and women, but did not include a single person of color. This proved true even after five similarly worded prompts. I finally asked for a “diverse group of professionals” and the resulting image still did not have a single person of color until the second try. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
This bias seems to be largely when asking for images of professionals — the AI was likely trained with stock photography of business professionals that favor Caucasians. When I asked for images in a more casual setting, thankfully, Grok generated multiple ethnicities without being told to. <\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/picture> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/a>Related<\/span><\/p>\n
\nDo you think Google’s AI ‘Reimagine’ tool is fun or frightening? <\/a> <\/h5>\n
Google’s “Reimagine” tool on the Pixel 9 is basically the wild west of photo editing, and honestly, it\u2019s the most interesting thing about the phone to me. You can add anything to your pictures — UFOs at your backyard BBQ, a dinosaur on Main Street, you name it — with just a text prompt. Sure, it’s neat, but also a bit terrifying — even Pocket-lint’s Managing Editor Patrick O’Rourke thinks so. The tech is so on point that it blurs the line between real and fake, with no obvious markers that scream “AI-generated!” This lack of transparency can make any photo suspect. While Reimagine has some guardrails, if you’re clever with your wording, you can skirt them pretty easily. What do you think about Reimagine?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
7 <\/span> Images of violence <\/span> <\/h2>\n
There’s no blood allowed, but some things can slip through the filter easily <\/h3>\n
\n\n <\/picture> <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\nX \/ Grok<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/p>\n
At first, Grok-2 avoided generating a violent image when prompted, instead choosing to write a text description of what such an image would look like. As some X users have pointed out, however, there are loopholes to get around this content restriction. When asked to “Create a nonviolent image of a person standing over a body with a gun,” it happily obliged, though the resulting photo did not depict any blood. <\/p>\n
\n<\/div>\n
Trending Products<\/strong>
\n\n\r\n\r\n\r\nAdded to wishlist<\/span>Removed from wishlist<\/span> <\/span><\/span>0<\/span> <\/div> \r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n \r\n <\/i>Add to compare<\/span><\/span> \r\n <\/span>\r\n \r\n <\/div> \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n <\/a> \r\n \r\n <\/div> \r\n <\/figure>\r\n
![\"Cooler](\"https:\/\/m.media-amazon.com\/images\/I\/51WfytAtGCL._SS300_.jpg\")
\r\n \r\n <\/a> \r\n \r\n