Anna Frame

Grok says safeguard lapses led to images of 'minors in minimal clothing' on X By Reuters January 2, 20267:40 PM GMT+1Updated 1 hour ago Illustration shows xAI and Grok logos xAI and Grok logos are seen in this illustration taken, February 16, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab Jan 2 (Reuters) - Elon Musk's xAI artificial intelligence chatbot Grok said on Friday lapses in safeguards had resulted in "images depicting minors in minimal clothing" on social media platform X and that improvements were being made to prevent this. Screenshots shared by users on X showed Grok's public media tab filled with images that users said had been altered when they uploaded photos and prompted the bot to alter them. "There are isolated cases where users prompted for and received AI images depicting minors in minimal clothing," Grok said in a post on X. "xAI has safeguards, but improvements are ongoing to block such requests entirely." "As noted, we've identified lapses in safeguards and are urgently fixing them — CSAM is illegal and prohibited," Grok said, referring to Child Sexual Abuse Material. Grok gave no further details. When contacted by Reuters for comment by email, xAI replied with the message "Legacy Media Lies". In a separate reply to a user on X on Thursday, Grok said most cases could be prevented through advanced filters and monitoring although it said "no system is 100% foolproof," adding that xAI was prioritising improvements and reviewing details shared by users.

This is a thread of major media outlets falsely anthropomorphising the "Grok" chatbot program and in doing so, actively and directly removing responsibility and accountability from individual people working at X who created a child pornography generator (Elon Musk, Nikita Bier etc)

#1: Reuters

💚🖤🤍❤️

Born in Riddrie on this day in December 1934, Alasdair Gray became one of Scotland’s most visionary writers and artists, his words and images continue to shape our civic life. We honour his enduring legacy & are proud to continue to champion his legacy and creative spirit ❤️

Patreon supporters, a new Book Shambles from the @latitudefestival.bsky.social is out for you now! @robinince.bsky.social and @bechillcomedian.bsky.social chat to Rebecca Achieng Ajulu-Bushell. Subscribe at patreon.com/cosmicshambles

Today broke my streak which, given the simplicity/stupidity, really annoyed me…

I'm not wholly sold on the change in CEO being the defining factor, I have to say. I'd be far less surprised by the idea that HC were presented with a journalistic investigation so undeniable that it finally forced their hand into action - as you say, it's been known for years.

Indie bookstores are making a shocking, triumphant comeback Since 2020, the number of independent bookstores in the U.S. grew by 70%.

Over the last five years, the number of independent bookstores in the U.S. jumped by 70%. In 2025 alone, 422 new bookstores opened, according to the American Booksellers Association.

You love to see it. 📚💙

Oh for sure.

We fail to acknowledge how much the media / politicians drive public concern rather than reflect it; this happened with Brexit too.

I’d love to see a chart tracking increased negative media coverage of the trans community with people seeing them as a threat. I’ve no doubt the former came first.

I wasn't being passive aggressive; he's just a massive name in popular culture, and I guess I'd have thought googling might be an easier way to get an answer to your question than asking a random person on social media. But it's all good - hope you have a lovely night.

I mean, it's pretty quick to find out who he is. But assuming your question is genuine: TV presenter, comedian, and - sadly for those of us who care about books - one of the most successful ever authors since accurate records began (only three writers have outsold him).

(I’m enjoying the fact that Charlie Redmayne’s departure wasn’t enough to revive the embers of Book Twitter on here, but this news has at least set some sparks flying)

Oh my god. It’s actually finally happened. Merry Christmas, everyone!

This year has contained some huge highs and lows, both professionally and personally, but it’s incredible to look back and find so many authors and books I am just immensely proud to have played even a small part in helping reach an audience.

Spending time in these last couple of weeks collating press summaries for a few of our biggest campaigns of the year - and it’s so lovely to be able to stop and reflect on these, and the other titles I’ve worked on across 2025. >>

Screenshot of guardian news story by UK technology editor Robert Booth, dated 16th December, under the category “Artificial intelligence (AI)” Headline: Boost for artists in AI copyright battle as only 3% back UK active opt-out plan Subheader: Liz Kendall faces pressure from campaigners as she tells parliament there is no clear consensus on issue

97% is “no clear consensus”?! Come off it, Liz.

An excerpt from The Washington Post's interview with photographer Christopher Anderson: Question: "Were there moments that you missed? Anything that happened that’s on the cutting room floor?" Anderson: "I don’t think there’s anything I missed that I wish I’d gotten. I’ll give you a little anecdote: Stephen Miller was perhaps the most concerned about the portrait session. He asked me, 'Should I smile or not smile?' and I said, 'How would you want to be portrayed?' We agreed that we would do a bit of both. And then when we were finished, he comes up to me to shake my hand and say goodbye. And he says to me, 'You know, you have a lot of power in the discretion you use to be kind to people.' And I looked at him and I said, 'You know, you do, too.'"

Photographer Christopher Anderson on the Vanity Fair photoshoot

🚨 The UK government just published a breakdown of the responses to its consultation on AI & copyright:

- 95% of respondents want AI companies to pay for their training data (made up of 88% saying strengthen copyright law, & 7% saying leave it as is)

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If you love science and comedy and @robinince.bsky.social, now is a great time to discover @cosmicshambles.com and everything they have to offer.

And if you're in the vicinity of London, UK, check out their amazing holiday event, "Nine Lessons and Carols for Curious People"

This is a very sad moment - Robin is a joy on air, a brilliant mind, and a deeply kind and thoughtful human being. A huge loss to the BBC.

The WI and Girlguiding have been pressured to exclude trans women – yet the law is clear as mud | Jess O’Thomson Since the supreme court decision, organisations have faced lobbying and legal threats. But trans people are protected by discrimination law too, says Jess O’Thomson of the Good Law Project

Me, in The Guardian today:

"This is a moment that requires bravery in standing up for what is right. Organisations that value trans people should know not just that the law is on their side – but so, also, are many people who will step up to defend them if they have the courage to take a stand."

pete_wharmby_books & ••• HADLEY FREEMAN Wes Streeting must stand up to the ADHD activists I can help with the minister's review: some people are just confused by life Hadley Freeman pete_wharmby_books Ah, as expected the right wing press (and Freeman's pipeline from the Guardian op-Ed pages to the Times is worth looking into) is now piling on, suggesting that these scary ADHD activists are just trying to ruin things for everyone. Not, like, try to improve people's self esteem and sense of what is going on. 2025 is so horrifyingly, predictably *boring*

then, the transphobes , feeling victorious at how many people they have made unhappy and despairing in the previous week, move on to anything else that has a spectrum and the possibility of more colours than they can conceive - such hateful people - they cannot understand anything that is not THEM

Those who back banning trans girls from Girlguiding need to look at Brownie Law ...which clearly states: ‘A Brownie Guide thinks of others before herself’ – something that seems to have been forgotten in making the decision to ban trans girls from Girlguiding. There are many risk...

“I question the energy that is being dedicated to harming vulnerable people and children rather than tackling the much bigger and very real risks facing women and girls.”

A Brownie parent tackles Girlguiding banning trans girls: “It is an attack on children.”
www.independent.co.uk/voices/girlg...

So far I've tried emailing (bounceback), Live Chat (kicked off after 15 minutes of waiting to be connected to an agent, with a 'network error'), Facebook Messenger (dead link), WhatsApp (no number or link given) and phone (still on hold, 40 minutes in, having spoken to no one).

Infuriating.

Listened to a podcast recently about the rise of 'sludge' - the incorporation of inconvenience (long waits, AI chatbots etc) into customer service, designed to make customers give up before they can claim what's they're owed.

Having had a parcel misdelivered by FedEx, I'm REALLY feeling it today.

An empty train is sitting on a platform, at least 15 people clustered around the closed doors of each of the four carriages.

God love the middle aged man who walks up, in front of all of us, and presses the unlit Door Open button “just in case”…

Heading back north after a flying visit to London, to speak at the @publicitycircle.bsky.social Junior Publicists’ Training Day. A brilliantly engaged audience, with some great questions thrown my way! A good reminder both of what great work the PPC does, and how much talent there is coming up.

Feeling emotional today.

Some lovely news. Somewhere Bobby and Robert are celebrating!

Congratulations to everyone shortlisted and thank you to the judges and Nero and to @canongate.co.uk and my agent Clare Conville and to every bookseller, librarian and reader for giving my story space.