California, Arizona launch investigations into Grok

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(The Center Square) - Attorneys general in California and Arizona have launched investigations into xAI’s artificial intelligence chatbot Grok and its imagery of adults and minors.

“Recent reporting has raised serious concerns that the chatbot may have been used to create non-consensual and exploitative images," said Richie Taylor, communications director for Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, responding by email to questions from The Center Square.

Taylor linked the response to a Wired article that details how Grok allegedly created “violent, sexual imagery of adults” and “sexualized videos of apparent minors.”

“These reports and others are what led to the office’s focus on the Grok chatbot,” Taylor said.

Mayes called these reports “deeply disturbing.”

“Artificial 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."

A day after Mayes started her investigation last week, California Attorney General Rob Bonta sent a cease-and-desist letter to xAI. Bonta demanded xAI to “take immediate action to stop the creation and distribution of deepfake nonconsensual intimate images or child sexual abuse material.”

The California Attorney General’s Office told The Center Square that xAI is aware of its investigation.

“AG Bonta is extremely concerned with the amount of shocking and potentially illegal conduct out there and is committed to moving on this issue quickly,” the office said, answering The Center Square's questions by email. “The California Department of Justice will spare no resource to ensure Californians are safe.”

Bonta’s office said it had been in “touch with sister states about this issue.”

The Center Square reached out to xAI’s media department and asked for the company's reactions to the California and Arizona investigations. The media department responded by email, “Legacy Media Lies.”

As part of the investigation, Mayes told Arizonans to contact her office if they believe they were harmed by Grok through the production or allocation of non-consensual or illegal AI-generated images. You can reach Mayes' office at azag.gov/complaints/criminal.

“Technology companies cannot turn a blind eye when their products are used to cause real-world harm,” Mayes said. “If you believe you were targeted or victimized, we want to hear from you.”