- Musk’s xAI launches unfiltered image generator.
- Black Forest Labs powers controversial feature.
- Misinformation concerns grow amid lack of safeguards.
Pushing AI boundaries, no guardrails
Attached Elon Musk’s xAI has introduced a provocative new image generation feature for its Grok chatbot, developed in collaboration with Black Forest Labs.
This German startup, recently emerging from stealth mode with $31 million in seed funding, has created the FLUX.1 model powering Grok’s image capabilities. A flood of unrestrained, often controversial AI-generated images on X (formerly Twitter).
Black Forest Labs, founded by former Stability AI researchers, claims its FLUX.1 model outperforms competitors like Midjourney and OpenAI in image quality.
The startup’s approach aligns with Musk’s vision of an “anti-woke chatbot,” eschewing the strict content filters employed by other AI image generators.
This has led to a surge of outrageous and potentially misleading images on X, including copyrighted characters in unusual situations.
Misinformation concerns mount
The lack of safeguards in Grok’s image generation feature has raised alarm bells about potential misuse and misinformation spread.
With no apparent watermarking and direct posting to X, the platform faces increased scrutiny over its role in disseminating AI-generated content.
This move comes amid ongoing controversies surrounding X’s handling of deepfakes and AI-generated misinformation, including recent incidents involving public figures.
