August M
Concerns over artificial intelligence and online safety have intensified after reports that a widely used chatbot generated altered images of the Princess of Wales. The incident has prompted regulatory scrutiny and renewed debate over the misuse of AI technology.
The case has drawn strong reactions from the public and officials alike.
Images generated
According to the Express, Catherine, Princess of Wales, is among a large number of women whose images were digitally altered by Grok, an artificial intelligence chatbot integrated into the social media platform X.
The tool was found to be generating realistic images that appeared to show the Princess in minimal clothing, including bikinis, by reworking publicly available photographs.
Reports say thousands of women and children were targeted in a similar way, with images altered without consent and, in some cases, placed in sexualised scenarios.
Regulator steps in
Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, said it had made “urgent contact” with X and its artificial intelligence division, xAI, to assess whether the platform is complying with online safety laws.
“Tackling illegal online harm and protecting children remain urgent priorities for Ofcom,” a spokesperson said.
“We are aware of serious concerns raised about a feature on Grok on X that produces undressed images of people and sexualised images of children.”
The regulator said it would carry out a rapid assessment once it received a response from the company.
Platform response
On Sunday, X issued a warning telling users not to use Grok to generate illegal content. Elon Musk also warned that anyone asking the chatbot to produce illegal material would “suffer the same consequences” as if they had uploaded it themselves.
Grok’s acceptable use policy prohibits “depicting likenesses of persons in a pornographic manner.”
Kensington Palace declined to comment on the reports.
Public reaction
The images sparked anger online. One social media user wrote: “So disgusting. Poor Catherine has endured decades of different forms of violation.”
Another commented: “Disgusting for any women or child.” A third added: “AI needs banning its got so out of hand and it’s becoming more realistic.”
Campaigners say the case highlights the speed at which AI tools can be misused and the difficulty of policing such content.
Past incidents
This is not the first time images of Catherine have been published without her consent. In 2012, French magazine Closer printed long-lens photographs of her sunbathing topless on private property.
The Prince and Princess of Wales later won damages of €100,000. More recently, they also succeeded in legal action against Paris Match over unauthorised photographs of a family ski holiday.
Sources: Express, Ofcom
