(The Center Square) – Attorneys general in California and Arizona have launched investigations into\u00a0xAI\u2019s artificial intelligence chatbot Grok and its imagery of adults and minors.<\/p>\n
\u201cRecent reporting has raised serious concerns that the chatbot may have been used to create non-consensual and exploitative images,” said\u00a0Richie Taylor, communications director for Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, responding by email to questions from The Center Square.<\/p>\n
Taylor\u00a0linked\u00a0<\/a>the response to a Wired article that details how Grok allegedly created \u201cviolent, sexual imagery of adults\u201d and \u201csexualized videos of apparent minors.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThese reports and others are what led to the office\u2019s focus on the Grok chatbot,\u201d Taylor said.<\/p>\n Mayes called these reports \u201cdeeply disturbing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cArtificial intelligence should never be used to exploit or harm people, especially children,” Mayes said. “Technology companies do not get a free pass to create powerful artificial intelligence tools and then look the other way when those programs are used to create child sexual abuse material.”<\/p>\n A day after Mayes started her investigation last week, California Attorney General Rob Bonta sent a cease-and-desist letter to xAI. Bonta\u00a0demanded<\/a>\u00a0xAI to \u201ctake immediate action to stop the\u00a0creation and distribution of deepfake nonconsensual intimate images or child sexual abuse material.\u201d<\/p>\n The California Attorney General\u2019s Office told The Center Square that xAI is aware of its investigation.<\/p>\n \u201cAG Bonta is extremely concerned with the amount of shocking and potentially illegal conduct out there and is committed to moving on this issue quickly,\u201d the office said, answering The Center Square’s questions by email. \u201cThe California Department of Justice will spare no resource to ensure Californians are safe.\u201d<\/p>\n Bonta\u2019s office said it had been in \u201ctouch with sister states about this issue.\u201d<\/p>\n The Center Square reached out to xAI\u2019s media department and asked for the company’s reactions to the California and Arizona investigations. The media department responded by email, \u201cLegacy Media Lies.\u201d<\/p>\n