California opens probe into Elon Musk’s xAI over AI-generated deepfakes
California opened an investigation into Elon Musk’s xAI after Grok’s image-generation features raised concerns of sexually explicit deepfakes of real people, including minors. Regulators cited California laws banning AI-generated sexual imagery of minors and urged immediate safeguards, with Gov. Newsom and Atty. Gen. Bonta signaling tough enforcement. The state’s action follows recent bills clarifying liability for AI harm, and Grok has begun restricting free image-generation amid global scrutiny; EU inquiries and other nations have also scrutinized the tool.