Generative AI, we are often told, is a transformative and complex technology. It’s so complex that its creators can’t explain why it does the way it does, and it’s so revolutionary that we’d be fools to stop progress. Even when progress is like a machine stripping strangers without their consent on an unprecedented scale, as was happening recently with Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot.
UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer seems to have bought so completely into the big lie of the AI bubble that he was willing to announce:
“I was informed this morning that X is making sure that UK law is fully followed.”
Not that it fits right now. Or the expected timeline for that to be done. It’s just that he seems content that one day, finally, Musk’s robot will stop producing child sexual abuse.
The statement comes less than two days after Starmer was quoted as saying “If X can control Grok, we will.” What could Elon have said to deserve this tragic capture. Is AI difficult? Solutions take time?
These are strong technical arguments until you remember: They can just shut it down.
Elon Musk has the ability to disable Grok, if not completely (we should be lucky) than the ability to produce an image. We know this intuitively, but also because he measured the generation of Grok’s image after this latest scandal: after several requests, free users are now ordered to pay $8 a month to continue to register wasteful technology to remove women’s clothing articles. Sweep it under the bed, making a few bucks along the way.
Not only is it entirely possible to have photo production turned off, it’s the only responsible option. Software developers often push back updates or turn off underperforming features; this one is still valid despite being against the law.
Now that we have been gone for the better part of a month we know that this problem exists; that the remaining “feature” should tell Starmer and others all they need to know. Buddy, you’ve got water for the bull who doesn’t seem to care that one such victim is reportedly Ashley St Clair, the mother of his (many) children.
Some countries – namely Malaysia and Indonesia – have chosen to disable Grok from their citizens by blocking the service. Indonesia’s Minister of Communications and Digital Affairs was quoted as saying “The government sees serious non-consensual sexual acts as a serious violation of human rights.” Imagine if everyone in the statecraft business felt that way.
The UK (not to mention the US, but please, don’t expect anything from us, we’re busy doing accreditation) has more power than X, and by extension Elon, than any of those countries. Musk is doing, and looking to do more, business in the UK. Even if Musk wasn’t perhaps the world’s most famous liar, Grok can still make pictures and that should speak for itself. Grok should be out for a second chance now, and it’s up to government leaders to say no more until they can independently confirm that it can do no more harm.
