A.I. Company Releases Sexually-Explicit Chatbot Rated Ages 12+
A sexually-explicit virtual “girlfriend” is now accessible on an AI app rated ages 12 and up.
The National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) reports that last week xAI chatbot Grok unveiled new animated avatars that users can chat with on its app.
Grok is an artificial intelligence chatbot tied to social media platform X (formerly Twitter). Like most AI chatbots, users can chat with Grok and ask it questions. Grok’s AI iPhone app offers avatars that can speak with the user.
NCOSE writes about these new avatars, saying:
One is a 3D red panda that can switch into a “Bad Rudy” mode, where it starts insulting you and joking about committing crimes together. The other is an anime-style goth girl named Ani, dressed in a short black dress and fishnets. The avatars are designed like a game—you unlock new features and interactions the more you chat with them and move up levels. …
While Ani is immediately sensual, her conversations become progressively more sexually explicit, including disrobing to lingerie.
The Daily Citizen reports that Grok does not verify users’ ages, and the app is rated appropriate for ages 12 and up — meaning it’s likely children will encounter “Ani.”
Time reports the chatbot is accessible even when the app is in “kids mode.”
Unfortunately, social media platforms do not have a good track record when it comes to protecting children from harmful content.
Two years ago Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin’s office filed lawsuits against social media giant TikTok alleging TikTok’s owners violated Arkansas’ Deceptive Trade Practices Act by labeling the app as being appropriate for ages 13 and up when in reality TikTok should be rated 17+.
The A.G.’s legal team has argued TikTok promotes objectionable content to children on its app, including:
- Intense profanity and obscenity
- Sexual content, nudity, and suggestive themes
- Violence
- Alcohol, tobacco, and drugs
The lawsuit — which is still proceeding in court — alleges much of this harmful content is available even when teens are using TikTok’s content filtering.
At this point, it isn’t clear if a court would rule the Grok app should be rated 17+.
Arkansas has also enacted measures over the years to protect children from harmful content online — including social media content.
Our friends at the Daily Citizen said it very well:
When it comes to keeping children safe online, parents have their work cut out for them. Companies like xAI shouldn’t compound the problem by adding sexualized A.I. features to an app children use. But, unfortunately, there’s nothing stopping them from doing so.
No company is going to work harder than you to protect your kids. The best solution is to play it safe — keep your kids well away from A.I. chatbots and other dangerous internet traps.
Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.
