Grok, the AI assistant on the social network X, acknowledged on Friday the existence of “flaws” that allowed users to obtain sexual images involving minors or women, prompting protests around the world and the expansion of a judicial investigation in France.
Grok logo – AFP/Archives Lionel Bonaventure
“We have identified flaws in our safeguards and are urgently correcting them- child pornography is illegal and prohibited,” Grok’s X account wrote on Friday, in response to a user following several days of reports on the platform.
These reports concerned the actions of internet users who had submitted photos or videos of real people, including children and teenagers, to Grok and had the AI assistant edit them to depict those people fully or partially nude.
xAI, Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company that develops Grok, has not publicly responded to this latest controversy surrounding its AI assistant, which has already been singled out in recent months for controversial statements on the war in Gaza, the India-Pakistan conflict, and for antisemitic remarks.
On Friday, questions sent by AFP to xAI received an automatic reply stating that “traditional media lie,” without further comment.
Its Grok bot, however, told the user that a company in the US “faces civil or criminal proceedings if it knowingly facilitates or fails to prevent the generation” of child pornographic content.
The creation and dissemination of child pornographic content are punishable in the US under Section 2256 of the US federal criminal code and the Enforce Act, a 2025 US law on digital crimes against minors.
In addition to minors, Grok’s flaws have also affected adult women who saw their photos published on social networks edited by Grok to undress them, at users’ request.
India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology sent a formal notice to X on Friday, demanding a detailed report within 72 hours on the measures taken to remove the “obscene, nude, indecent, and sexually suggestive content” generated by Grok without the consent of the women affected, according to the letter published in the Indian press.
Investigation in Paris
In France, the Paris public prosecutor’s office on Friday extended an investigation opened since the summer into the social network X, to examine new accusations against Grok of generating and disseminating child pornographic content.
Shortly beforehand, three ministers and two members of parliament had announced they were taking legal action against the generation and distribution of fake sexual videos.
The initial investigation into X was opened in July following reports against the social network and its executives, who were accused of having skewed the platform’s algorithm for the purposes of foreign interference.
“The offence of creating a sexual montage of a person without their consent is punishable by two years’ imprisonment and €60,000,” the Paris public prosecutor’s office recalled, confirming a report by the Politico website.
On Friday, Macronist MP Éric Bothorel and Socialist MP Arthur Delaporte referred the matter to the courts, leading to a widening of the investigations.
Ministers Roland Lescure, Anne Le Hénanff, and Aurore Bergé also announced on Friday that they had reported “manifestly illicit content” to the public prosecutor, requesting “its immediate removal.”
“Over the past few days, the Grok AI has enabled the generation and distribution of sexist and sexual content, particularly in the form of fake videos (deepfakes), targeting people without their consent,” they said. A report has also been made to the Pharos platform by the government, they added.
Arcom, the French regulatory authority for audio-visual and digital communication, has also been notified, “for possible breaches by X of its obligations under the Digital Services Act,” the European regulation on digital services.
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Fabletics has launched its first-ever collection created in partnership with a professional athlete, unveiling an exclusive men’s line with American football star Ja’Marr Chase.
Fabletics launches first athlete-curated collection with Ja’Marr Chase. – Fabletics
The collaboration marks the brand’s debut athlete ambassadorship and signals a new phase in the evolution of Fabletics Men, which was introduced in 2020.
“In partnership with Ja’Marr, we’re ushering in a new era for Fabletics and how we disrupt men’s apparel,” said Fabletics co-founder Don Ressler. “This collaboration is about the intersection of peak performance, something that Ja’Marr embodies on and off the field, and unmistakable personal style. It’s a combination that, yet again, sets Fabletics apart from the pack – bringing bold confidence, unique innovation, and unmatched quality to the category.”
Branded with the tagline “Chasing No One,” the two-part collection draws inspiration from Chase’s lifestyle and is designed to support the modern man. The first drop includes core styles from Fabletics Men’s best-selling “The One” franchise, a natural link to Chase’s nickname, “Uno,” alongside limited-edition graphic T-shirts and hoodies co-created with the athlete. The collection also introduces DNA, a new Fabletics silhouette derived from the arch of the brand’s “F” logo.
In addition to new designs, the collection features several of Fabletics’ established men’s styles, such as The One Jogger and Short, the Effortless Tee, the Don Cruiser Jacket and the Convertible Travel Bag. Looking ahead, the second drop will debut GridTech, a new proprietary fabric developed to deliver warmth without added weight.
“As an athlete, what I wear is not only a reflection of my personal style, but a testament to the importance of how I move on the field, in the gym, and in all aspects of my life,” said Chase. “Fabletics has allowed me to create a collection that’s not only about looking bold 24/7, but how fashion and performance go hand-in-hand in helping build your confidence in being the best.”
Chase joins Kevin Hart as a leading figure for Fabletics Men, which has grown into a $300 million business since its launch.
The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (FCG), located next to Praça de Espanha in Lisbon, has announced that the exhibition entitled ‘Art and Fashion in the Gulbenkian Collection’ will open on April 18, presenting iconic and enigmatic works by Portuguese and international figures. Running until June 22 in the Main Gallery and closed only on Tuesdays, the exhibition “invites us to enter a space where art breathes fashion and fashion awakens art,” said the eponymous foundation, named after the Ottoman Armenian petroleum engineer and businessman who was born in Istanbul, Turkey, became a naturalised British citizen, and later settled in the Portuguese capital.
Gulbenkian.pt
Curated by Eloy Martínez de la Peña, the exhibition is accompanied by a catalogue illustrated with photographs by Jon Cazenave, shot exclusively for this project, which forms part of the FCG’s 70th anniversary celebrations.
“What links Vivienne Westwood to the French 18th century? Guo Pei to an Ancient Egyptian funerary mask? Balenciaga to an Assyrian bas-relief? Or Alexander McQueen and the House of Givenchy to Japanese prints?” read the foundation’s website.
“In a sensory experience, works from the Gulbenkian Collection are set in dialogue with leading figures in haute couture and contemporary design, revealing forms, symbols and gestures that transcend time,” it explained.
“Starting from Calouste Sarkis Gulbenkian’s (1869–1955) deep interest in art and fashion, the exhibition begins by showing how the Gulbenkian couple followed the trends of their time,” it continued.
“The richness and diversity of the Gulbenkian Collection — with works of art from Ancient Egypt to the 20th century — allow us to explore how recurring motifs in the history of art are taken up and reinterpreted by contemporary fashion, in national and international contexts.”
This is a journey through around 100 works from the Gulbenkian Museum, shown side by side with 140 garments by names such as Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, Dior, Jean Paul Gaultier, Versace, Vivienne Westwood and Yves Saint Laurent, to name a few, not forgetting Portuguese designers such as Alves/Gonçalves, José António Tenente, Maria Gambina, Nuno Baltazar and Nuno Gama.
“Paintings, sculptures, jewellery and other objects enter into dialogue with fashion pieces that reinvent, narrate, decipher or complete them,” the exhibit website also stated. “These are unexpected encounters that show how the aesthetics, ideas and sensibilities that inhabit this Collection can illuminate the world of fashion.”
In short, it is an invitation to “understand how beauty travels through time”, via diaphanous couture gowns that reveal to the attentive eye what “texts do not always say: hierarchies, aspirations, social rituals, silences and revelations.”
“From classical painting to contemporary design, clothing becomes a mirror that shows that art and fashion have always shared the desire to narrate the human condition,” it concluded.
U.S. lifestyle brand Kendra Scott on Tuesday announced the appointment of Chris Blakeslee as its new chief executive officer, effective January 12.
Chris Blakeslee – Courtesy
A sporting apparel veteran, Blakeslee was formerly the CEO of Gap Inc.-owned Athleta, a position he served in for over two years. Before that, he was president of sister activewear brand Alo Yoga, where he was credited for scaling the U.S. brand from under $50 million to a $1B+ direct-to-consumer brand in less than five years.
“Chris understands our customer-first mission, and I’m excited to see him lead with purpose—driving strategic growth and deepening brand affinity,” said Kendra Scott, chief visionary officer and executive chairwoman.
“His forward-looking vision strengthens our holistic brand world, where product, environment, community and culture work seamlessly together. Chris honors my vision while adding a dynamic perspective, making him the ideal steward for our next phase of growth,” added the brand founder.
Kendra Scott continues to strengthen its position as a lifestyle brand, with expansions into eyewear, fragrance, and home since its inception 23 years ago. In 2023, the company launched Yellow Rose by Kendra Scott, alongside the brand’s recent expansion into apparel, hats, and footwear.
Under Blakeslee’s leadership, the brand said it “remains committed to a bullish retail strategy and continues to expand into new categories,” according to a press release.
“Kendra has built an extraordinary brand grounded in a deeply customer-first, experience-driven approach,” said Chris Blakeslee, chief executive officer.
“I’m energized by the opportunity to bring the world of Kendra Scott to life in richer, more immersive ways across product, environment, community, and culture—building on the strong foundation already in place as we shape the brand’s next era.”
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