An expert has stated that the image generation tool added to the smart chatbot Grok, owned by American billionaire Elon Musk, is unleashing “a flood of misinformation” and other damages.
A new version of Grok, available to paid subscribers on X, the social media platform owned by Musk, was launched earlier in August with a new AI image generation tool.
Some reports noted that the image tool did not have many restrictions on what it can create, a standard that has become common in the industry with other AI image generation tools. As a result, X has witnessed a wave of bizarre and offensive images appearing on the platform, often depicting politicians or celebrities, including some images showing them participating in the September 11, 2001, attacks.
Additionally, the chatbot does not seem to refuse to create images of copyrighted characters, as numerous images have been published of cartoon and comic characters engaging in sinister or illegal activities.
This follows intense criticism directed at X and Musk for the platform’s role in recent disturbances in Britain, where misinformation was allowed to spread, fueling much unrest. Meanwhile, Mr. Musk interacted with far-right figures on the site and reaffirmed his belief in “absolute freedom of speech.”
Social Crisis Daniel Card, a fellow at BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT, said that the issue of misinformation and disinformation on the X platform is a “social crisis” due to its potential impact.
He said, “Grok may have some barriers, but it unleashes a flood of misinformation, copyright chaos, and clear deceptive practices.”
“This is not just a defensive issue; it is a social crisis. The information war has become a bigger threat than cyberattacks, penetrating our daily lives and distorting global perceptions.”
“These challenges require bold and modern solutions. By the time regulators intervene, misinformation has already reached millions, spreading at a pace we are simply unprepared for.”
“In the U.S., skewed views of countries like the UK are spread, driven by exaggerated reports of danger. We are at a crucial crossroads in navigating the truth in the AI era.”
“Our current strategies are insufficient. As we move to a hybrid digital-physical world, this threat could become the greatest challenge facing society, and we need to act now. Authorities, governments, and technology leaders must step up.”
However, Musk seemed to enjoy the controversial nature of the chatbot update, posting on X, “Grok is the most fun smart chatbot in the world!”
