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Arizona AG opens investigation into Grok after reports of sexually explicit AI images of minors

Arizona AG Kris Mayes on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025.
Howard Fischer/Capitol Media Services
Arizona AG Kris Mayes on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes is opening an investigation into reports of Grok generating videos and images depicting non-consensual sexually explicit and violent content, including of apparent minors.

Grok is an artificial intelligence powered built-in tool on x.com that answers user’s questions and generates images. The interactive AI chatbot’s website and app has generation capabilities greater than x.com.

This has resulted in users generating sexually explicit, violent and abusive images and videos, including some depicting minors.

“These reports are deeply disturbing,” Mayes said. “Artificial intelligence should never be used to exploit or harm people, especially children.

Mayes said these reports warrant immediate scrutiny.

Other states and countries, including California and the United Kingdom, have also opened investigations into Grok.

“Technology companies cannot turn a blind eye when their products are used to cause real-world harm,” Mayes said.

Richie Taylor is the communications director at the AG’s Office. Taylor said it is too early to determine what laws will apply in this case.

“We're also going to be looking into whether, um, the the generation of these images violates any Arizona laws, including some that, um, that criminalize the creation of, uh, child sexual abuse material of minors,” Taylor said.

Taylor said Arizona’s law protecting against AI deepfakes is one of the laws being looked at.

The law, passed in 2024, prohibits the generation of deepfakes that nonconsensually depict sexual acts or intimate body parts.

A similar federal law protects against generated content. Congress passed the Take It Down act in 2025 which criminalizes the nonconsensual publication of intimate images, including deep fakes.

Taylor encouraged Arizonans to reach out to the AG’s office if they believe they have been harmed or victimized by Grok or any AI chatbot.

“We do want to hear from Arizonans directly if they were, if they were harmed or victimized by, um, by this chatbot or- or by any generative AI tool,” Taylor said.

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Connor Greenwall is an intern at KJZZ.