Elon Musk’s new artificial intelligence (AI) device, Grok-2, has proven to be a lightning rod for controversy shortly after its release. The AI image creator, developed by Musk’s company xAI, has come under fire for its lack of content controls within days of going live on X (formerly Twitter).
Users have been posting violent and sexually explicit images featuring popular characters from Nintendo, Disney, and other well-known brands that are AI-generated.
The backlash against Grok-2 began immediately when it became clear that no copyright restrictions or content moderation filters were imposed by the tool. Images of Pikachu and Goofy committing acts of extreme violence have been widely shared as an example of what is wrong with the platform which allows such things to go unchecked. This led some people to speculate whether companies like Nintendo or Disney might take legal action against Elon Musk or his AI company.
Disturbing AI-generated scenes of Nintendo and Disney characters flood X
The scandal arose after people began sharing profoundly disturbing images created entirely by artificial intelligence on X. One person who made pictures depicting Pikachu and Goofy engaging in violent acts against each other said he did it because there is no filter or restriction for the tool itself. This raises serious ethical questions about these types of technologies when they can produce such horrific content with no oversight at all.
User outrage was further fueled by pictures that showed Nintendo’s Princess Peach and Bowser involved in criminal activities and NSFW acts with many predicting legal action from Nintendo. Similarly, pictures of Mario holding a beer and a joint have caused high condemnation with many expressing shock at how easily such materials could be created and shared.
Grok AI under fire as legal and ethical concerns surge
Musk and xAI’s potential legal troubles are growing by the day, with some experts predicting that this could lead to countless lawsuits from large corporations whose intellectual property has been stolen. The situation worsened after an Olympian sued Elon Musk for cyberbullying through a criminal complaint. On top of these new legal problems, there is already mounting criticism over the unrestricted features of Grok-2.
People want to know what happens next with Grok AI, but events are still unfolding, and neither Musk nor any affected brands have responded. The incident demonstrates just how urgently stronger ethical standards and legislative frameworks governing artificial intelligence are needed, especially those integrated into public platforms.
