Elon Musk's Grok AI anime avatar goes viral for NSFW mode; sparks debate over flirtatious and adult responses

Time of India

a day ago

Tech billionaire Elon Musk introduced a new feature to his AI (Artificial Intelligence) chatbot Grok on X (formerly called Twitter) called customisable AI companions on Monday, July 14. The dubbed companions are animated characters that react to users' given prompts and move with head and body movements, as well as facial expressions.
Currently, the new AI feature is exclusively available to the iOS app. Additionally, there are two available Companions: a 2D goth anime girl with blonde pigtails named Ani and a 3D cartoon fox named Bad Rudy. This feature is likely powered by Grok 4.
Grok's 4 anime companions have an NSFW mode: What's that?
The tech billionaire announced the news on his X account, noting that currently it is available only to the SuperGrok subscribers, who pay $300 a month (roughly Rs. 25,700) on the iOS app. However, there is no word on when the feature could be released on Android and the web.
Step-by-step guide to open Grok iOS
If you want to open the Grok iOS app, you need to follow these steps:
Firstly, the users need to open the Grok iOS app to enable Companions.
Tap the 'two vertical lines' icon in the top-left corner.
Select the gear icon at the bottom.
This will bring up the option to turn on Companions.
Note: Currently, the only available options are Ani and Bad Rudy. Once activated, a full-screen interface featuring the chosen character will appear, allowing the users to interact via voice chat or typed prompts.
Concerns rise over NSFW content linked to Ani, the AI Companion
Amid the new launch, it has come to light that Ani, the gothic anime girl AI companion, may include a not safe for work (NSFW) mode, allowing users to undress the character and reveal her in lingerie. Meanwhile, several users on X have posted screenshots of this feature.
Along with this, there is a high search for terms like 'Ani,' 'AniCompanion,' or 'Grok' on social media. Users are advised to proceed with warning, as they may encounter explicit images of the avatar. Amid all this, a Reddit user, u/MassiveWasabi, shared a post, saying that when he asked the anime character for her name, she replied flirtatiously, saying, 'Hey cutie, I'm Annie, your crazy-in-love girlfriend who's gonna make your heart skip.'
While other users have raised concerns about the overly sexual tone in Ani's responses, pointing to a possible issue with the companion's design and moderation.
Moreover, Grok's latest offering comes at a time when AI girlfriends or romantic partners have become a major topic of discussion. According to Psychology Today, 'AI girlfriends can perpetuate loneliness because they dissuade users from entering into real-life relationships, alienate them from others, and, in some cases, induce intense feelings of abandonment.'
To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.