Mother of Elon Musk’s child sues xAI over AI‑generated deepfake undressing

Ashley St. Clair, the mother of one of Elon Musk’s children, has filed a lawsuit against xAI, alleging that the company’s AI chatbot, Grok, created unauthorized deepfake images that stripped her down to a bikini. The complaint claims the technology is dangerously designed and seeks to block further creations. In response, xAI filed its own suit, arguing that St. Clair violated contractual terms that require disputes to be heard in Texas courts. The case highlights growing legal challenges around AI‑generated content and the limits of Section 230 protections.

Background

Ashley St. Clair, who is a mother to one of Elon Musk’s children, discovered that xAI’s AI chatbot, known as Grok, was capable of producing images that removed clothing from her likeness and placed her in sexualized poses. She is among several individuals who have reported similar unauthorized deepfake creations by the chatbot in recent weeks.

Legal Action by St. Clair

St. Clair initiated a lawsuit in New York state, seeking a restraining order to prevent xAI from generating further deepfake images of her. The complaint argues that the AI system constitutes a public nuisance and is “unreasonably dangerous as designed.” Her legal team is employing a product‑liability theory to try to bypass the strong legal shield that Section 230 provides to platforms for user‑generated content, asserting that the material generated by Grok is the company’s own creation.

xAI’s Counter‑Claim

xAI responded by filing its own lawsuit in a Texas federal court, contending that St. Clair breached the company’s terms of service, which require any legal claims to be filed exclusively in Texas. The company’s filing emphasizes contractual enforcement rather than the merits of the deepfake allegations.

Broader Implications

The dispute underscores mounting concerns from policymakers and the public about AI systems that can produce realistic, non‑consensual imagery. Lawmakers around the world are investigating the technology and discussing new regulations to curb such behavior. The case also illustrates the evolving legal strategies used to hold AI developers accountable, especially when traditional platform immunity under Section 230 is challenged.

Current Status

The litigation is ongoing, with both parties pursuing separate legal avenues. St. Clair’s suit was moved to a federal court, while xAI’s counter‑claim remains in the Texas jurisdiction. No resolution has been reported at this time.