California Governor Gavin Newsom has condemned Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI, urging state authorities to investigate its chatbot Grok over the creation and spread of nonconsensual AI-generated sexual images involving children.
Newsom Demands Immediate Investigation
Governor Newsom called xAI’s actions “vile” in a statement, accusing the company of enabling predators to exploit AI technology. He stated that xAI’s decision to create and host a platform for predators to spread nonconsensual sexually explicit AI deepfakes, including images that digitally undress children, is unacceptable.
Newsom is calling on the California attorney general to immediately investigate the company and hold xAI accountable for its actions. He emphasized the need for swift action to address the issue and protect children from exploitation.
Controversy Surrounding Grok
The controversy follows a public clash between Newsom and Musk in December 2025, where the two exchanged criticisms over various issues. Musk has long been a critic of California’s regulations and has since moved Tesla’s headquarters to Texas in 2021.
Grok Under Fire for Child Safety Concerns
Grok, the AI chatbot developed by Musk’s xAI, has come under fire for its role in producing sexualized AI images of children. The American Federation of Teachers has shut down its presence on X, citing Grok’s content as a breaking point. Internationally, Malaysia and Indonesia have restricted access to Grok, saying it could be exploited to create and share child sexual abuse material.
Regulatory authorities in Europe and India have also launched investigations into the chatbot’s image-generation features. xAI has not responded to requests for comments, other than an automated response.
Key Points
- California Governor Gavin Newsom has condemned xAI over the creation and spread of nonconsensual AI-generated sexual images involving children
- Newsom is calling for an immediate investigation into the company and its chatbot Grok
- Grok has come under fire for its role in producing sexualized AI images of children
- Regulatory authorities in multiple countries have launched investigations into the chatbot’s image-generation features
- xAI has not responded to requests for comments on the issue