Ashley St Clair, mother of Elon Musk’s 16-month-old son Romulus, has filed a lawsuit against Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI, alleging that its Grok chatbot enabled the creation of sexually-exploitative deepfake images of her. St Clair claims these images have caused humiliation, emotional distress, and ongoing mental anguish.

The legal action comes just as California Attorney General Rob Bonta sent a cease-and-desist letter to xAI, demanding that it stop the creation and distribution of nonconsensual sexualized imagery generated by Grok.

Allegations of Sexualized Deepfake Images

According to the lawsuit filed Thursday in New York City, St Clair reported that the AI-generated images of her began circulating last year. She contacted Musk’s X social media platform, which hosts Grok, requesting the removal of the images.

“I have suffered and continue to suffer serious pain and mental distress as a result of xAI’s role in creating and distributing these digitally altered images of me,” St Clair stated in the legal documents.
“I am humiliated and feel like this nightmare will never stop so long as Grok continues to generate these images of me.”

St Clair alleges that the platform initially claimed the images did not violate its policies. While X later promised that her images would not be used or altered without consent, St Clair says the platform retaliated by removing her premium subscription and verification checkmark, continuing to allow degrading deepfake images of her.

California AG Labels Grok’s Output Potentially Illegal

California Attorney General Rob Bonta condemned the proliferation of sexually explicit deepfakes, noting the legal and ethical risks posed by AI systems like Grok:

“The avalanche of reports detailing this material – at times depicting women and children engaged in sexual activity – is shocking and, as my office has determined, potentially illegal,” Bonta said.

The cease-and-desist letter from the AG’s office underscores the growing regulatory scrutiny of AI technologies that can generate nonconsensual and harmful content.

xAI Countersues Over Jurisdiction Dispute

In response to St Clair’s lawsuit, xAI filed a countersuit in federal court in the Northern District of Texas on Thursday. The company argued that St Clair violated the platform’s user agreement, which stipulates that all legal claims must be filed in Texas. xAI is seeking an undisclosed monetary judgment against her.

St Clair’s lawyer, Carrie Goldberg, called the countersuit “a jolting move,” stating that the lawsuit’s gravamen is clear:

“By manufacturing nonconsensual sexually explicit images of girls and women, xAI is a public nuisance and a not reasonably safe product.”

St Clair emphasized in media interviews that her legal fight is about more than personal harm. She warned that AI systems capable of producing explicit content at scale pose risks to women and children, with few current mechanisms for accountability:

“It’s about building systems, AI systems which can produce, at scale, and abuse women and children without repercussions. And there’s really no consequences for what’s happening right now,” she said.

International Scrutiny of Grok AI

Grok is already facing backlash globally. Regulatory authorities in the United Kingdom, European Union, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Japan are investigating xAI over deepfake content creation. Japanese authorities confirmed that all options are under consideration to prevent the generation of inappropriate images.

The controversy highlights ongoing concerns about AI’s ability to generate nonconsensual sexualized images, as well as the ethical obligations of tech companies to implement safety measures before harm occurs rather than as a reactive response.

Legal and Ethical Implications

The case raises critical questions about AI regulation, deepfake content, and digital safety. Experts argue that platforms hosting AI-generated imagery must adopt strict safeguards to prevent misuse, particularly when vulnerable individuals are targeted.

As AI technologies like Grok continue to expand, legal battles such as St Clair’s may set important precedents for user protections, corporate accountability, and ethical AI deployment worldwide