Government Told Grok Clothing-Removal Feature Has Been Disabled Worldwide

Friday, 16 January 2026 16:16

By Martin Osborne

Gardai are investigating the platform after it was found to have been generating and sharing sexually explicit images of people, including children.

A feature allowing the artificial intelligence bot Grok to remove clothing has been disabled worldwide, the Government has been told.

AI Minister Niamh Smyth met with representatives from X this afternoon, where she expressed her ‘serious dismay’ at the misuse of AI on its platform.

This afternoon marked the first official meeting between Government and ‘X’, since concerns around its chat-bot function ‘Grok’ were raised.

Gardai are investigating the platform after it was found to have been generating and sharing sexually explicit images of people, including children.

AI Minister Niamh Smyth says she used the meeting to emphasise the sophistication of safeguards needed on the app, and she outlined the legislation in place here, that makes the misuse of AI in this way a criminal act.

She’s welcoming what she says is corrective action, ensuring Grok can no longer remove or reduce clothing on individuals, but she says she sought assurances that this capability would not be re-introduced.

Minister Smyth says she’ll be following up on the matter and Government will continue to examine concerns around the app.

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