UK backlash against Elon Musk’s Grok AI explained

UK backlash against Elon Musk’s Grok AI explained

By bbc.com
Publication Date: 2026-01-09 17:19:00

The UK government says Grok AI’s restriction of image editing to users who pay a monthly fee is an “insult” to victims of misogyny and sexual violence.

A backlash followed after Elon Musk’s AI engine digitally altered images of people by undressing them – something now reportedly only possible for those who pay a monthly rate.

BBC technology editor Zoe Kleinman explains what happened and why.