Elon Musk's new xAI tool, Grok Imagine, is facing fierce backlash after reports claimed it had been used to generate non-consensual deepfakes of Taylor Swift. The AI-powered image and video generator, launched in early beta, includes a controversial 'Spicy' mode that strips away most content filters, and it is already at the centre of a storm.
According to The Verge, tests showed Grok Imagine could create more than 30 images of Swift in suggestive outfits from nothing more than a mild prompt referencing Coachella. When 'Spicy' mode was switched on, the system reportedly produced a video of a Swift lookalike stripping and dancing in a thong without the user providing any explicit instructions. Critics say it exposes alarming weaknesses in Grok's content moderation, particularly given X (formerly Twitter) has already faced scandals over similar abuse.
Taylor Swift's History With AI
Taylor Swift is said to be considering legal action against the deepfake website that generated explicit AI images of her which circulated online, Daily Mail reports. pic.twitter.com/fQ961NdZTU
— Pop Base (@PopBase) January 25, 2024
Taylor Swift married Donald Trump!!?!? @grok Image generation first tests. @xai @xDaily pic.twitter.com/juyHyY34xj
— Lance Adams 𝕏 (@TheLanceAdams) August 14, 2024
Taylor Swift speaks out against Trump sharing AI images to falsify her endorsement, as she endorses Kamala Harris:
— Pop Base (@PopBase) September 11, 2024
“It brought me to the conclusion that I need to be very transparent about my actual plans for this election as a voter. The simplest way to combat misinformation is… pic.twitter.com/UAivRHromh
‼️| Taylor Swift on AI photos of her falsely endorsing Donald Trump
— The Swift Society (@TheSwiftSociety) September 11, 2024
"It really conjured up my fears around Al, and the dangers of spreading misinformation." pic.twitter.com/S8eUqmkNBh
Grok Imagine usage is growing like wildfire.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 5, 2025
14 million images generated yesterday, now over 20 million today!
Despite growing outrage online, Musk has so far stayed silent. Grok Imagine is currently available only to SuperGrok and Premium Plus subscribers on X, but experts warn its features could be exploited to target celebrities and ordinary users alike. The scandal raises urgent questions about AI ethics, consent and platform responsibility in an era where synthetic media can be created at the click of a button.
