The Big Story Is the government doing enough to protect you from Grok's deepfakes?
Jan 15, 2026
Tech author Paris Marx, known for his insights on AI and corporate influence, joins host Cristina Howorun to discuss the alarming rise of AI-generated deepfakes via Grok. They explore the troubling implications of these technologies on online harassment, particularly regarding sexualized images of minors. Marx critiques Elon Musk's prioritization of revenue over user safety and examines Canada’s insufficient regulatory responses. He advocates for stronger measures inspired by international models to better protect Canadians and offers practical advice on safeguarding personal online presence.
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Grok’s Origin Tied To Musk’s Rivalry
- Grok emerged after Elon Musk created XAI to compete with ChatGPT and integrated it into X.
- Paris Marx says Musk returned to AI after leaving OpenAI and wanted his own chatbot presence on the platform.
AI Lowers Barrier To Convincing Deepfakes
- Grok and other image generators lower the skill needed to create convincing deepfakes.
- Paris Marx warns that removing safeguards makes realistic, harmful images far easier to produce.
Anti‑Woke Positioning Removed Safeguards
- Grok positioned itself as an "anti-woke" AI by removing many content safeguards.
- Marx says Musk pushed to loosen restrictions to boost engagement, enabling abusive image generation.