Statement on Investigation Into xAI Over Explicit AI-Generated Images of Women and Children
SAN FRANCISCO, January 14, 2026—California Attorney General Rob Bonta today launched an investigation into xAI, the parent company of the Grok AI system, over reports of Grok repeatedly generating nonconsensual, sexually explicit images of women and children. In response, Common Sense Media Founder and CEO James P. Steyer issued the following statement:
"Common Sense Media commends Attorney General Bonta for taking swift, decisive action to investigate the disgusting proliferation of explicit images generated by Grok. The creation and spread of these images violates women and children's basic rights to privacy and safety.
"The recent reports of AI-generated child sexual abuse material on Grok are unfortunately not isolated incidents, but rather highlight a broader problem with the Wild West world of AI at large. When the most advanced technology of our time is deployed with no meaningful guardrails in place, it leaves all users, especially children, vulnerable to exploitation and manipulation.
"We wholeheartedly support AG Bonta's investigation into these serious privacy violations and hope that this serves as a wake-up call for all AI companies to build real safeguards into their products. In the meantime, we urge policymakers to require safety standards in AI development and hold tech companies accountable when their products harm our children.
"While the investigation proceeds, and while lawmakers develop those needed guardrails on AI, I call on Elon Musk to shut down the grotesque abuse of women and children through Grok. He can and should stop this right now. The safety and privacy of a generation must not be casualties of the AI arms race."
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