No, Grok hasn’t paywalled its deepfake image feature

Elon Musk’s X has partially restricted access to Grok’s image editing capabilities amid growing backlash to the flood of nonconsensual, sexualized deepfakes of adults and minors generated by the platform. As of this writing, it no longer generates images as @grok replies for free, but Grok’s image editing tools remain readily available for any X user to churn out images, both sexualized and tame.

X users were previously able to ask Grok — by tagging @grok in a tweet — to edit or create images on the platform. Users now attempting this are met with an automated response from the chatbot’s account, telling them that “Image generation and editing are currently limited to paying subscribers.” The reply includes a link encouraging them to subscribe to X’s paid programs “to unlock these features.”

The message gives the impression that only paid X users can edit or create images using Grok. That message is reinforced in the many headlines circulating right now stating that xAI, another Musk company that makes Grok, has restricted Grok’s image editing abilities to this select group of users. But that impression is false. All X users — including free ones — can still use Grok to edit and create images, including the sexually suggestive deepfakes that landed Grok in hot water to begin with.

Interacting with Grok through replies on X is just one of several ways to use the AI chatbot. For example, the “Edit image” button still invokes Grok on every image displayed on X’s desktop website, and that same button can be accessed on the X app by long-pressing on any image. Grok can also be accessed through a standalone website or app, as well as via a highly promoted tab in the X apps and X website. These remain readily available to free users, and require no additional effort compared to the @grok command.

The Verge tested the Grok website, app, and X tab with free accounts and Grok readily complied with our requests to edit or generate a variety of images, including a full “nudify” and one of Musk wearing a bikini.

The restrictions on X come after Grok has been used to generate sexual images primarily of women, many of them real, as well as minors. Much of this landed on X, which the Financial Times dubbed “the deepfake porn site formerly known as Twitter.” The deepfake undressings, as well as other sexual material, have outraged regulators worldwide, who have threatened to take action against X, though the deepfakes may fall into something of a legal void.

An unnamed spokesperson for the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who on Thursday said he would not tolerate the situation, said that putting the deepfake factory behind a paywall wasn’t a solution. “The move simply turns an AI feature that allows the creation of unlawful images into a premium service. It’s not a solution. In fact, it’s insulting to victims of misogyny and sexual violence.”

Musk and xAI have also threatened to take action against users who create illegal content using Grok, rather than ensuring that guardrails exist to make it impossible to create it in the first place.

X’s approach — limiting access rather than constraining use — contrasts with the approach taken by other AI companies like Google and OpenAI, which tend to impose strict guardrails on tools like Gemini and ChatGPT, rather than allow free rein for those who pay. Musk has reportedly opposed stricter guardrails personally, and several members of xAI’s already sparse safety team reportedly quit in the lead up to the deluge of digital undressings.

X did not respond to The Verge’s request for comment.

Update, January 9th: Added comment from spokesperson for UK Prime Minister.