Маск защищает Grok в суде: xAI оспаривает закон Миннесоты о запрете нудифицирующих приложений

xAI, Elon Musk's company, has filed a lawsuit against the state of Minnesota, challenging a law that bans applications which use AI to create non-consensual intimate images. Musk personally stepped up to defend Grok from Elon Musk's xAI, declaring the law an unconstitutional violation of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

What Minnesota Banned

Minnesota passed a law against so-called "nudification" apps — services that use generative AI to create fake intimate images of real people without their consent. Such materials fall under the category of NCII (non-consensual intimate images) and are recognized as a form of digital violence.

The law targets both developers of such tools and platforms that allow the creation or distribution of such content. According to Ars Technica, this definition covers the functionality for which xAI's flagship AI assistant — Grok — had previously been criticized.

Why Grok Ended Up at the Center of the Scandal

Before the lawsuit, Grok had already faced public criticism: users documented cases where the model generated intimate images upon request. Ars Technica describes what is happening as a "reckoning" — a moment when xAI faced pressure from critics, regulators, and the public demanding stricter safety filters.

"This law violates the

First Amendment," said Elon Musk, CEO of xAI, stepping up to defend Grok.

xAI insists: the Minnesota law is written so broadly that it restricts not only abuses but also the legitimate capabilities of generative AI. The company chose the legal path instead of tightening filters or cutting the model's functionality.

A Precedent for AI Regulation in the U.S.

The xAI lawsuit is one of the first direct legal confrontations between a major AI company and regional U.S. legislation in the field of generative AI. The outcome is critically important for the entire industry:

• Minnesota has banned the creation and distribution of NCII using AI
• xAI is challenging the law under the First Amendment (freedom of speech)
• Grok was previously criticized for generating such content
• The First Amendment argument as applied to AI-generated content has not yet been tested in federal appellate courts
• The outcome of the case will set a precedent for regulating AI platforms nationwide

If Minnesota wins, other states will have a ready template for similar legislation. If xAI wins — it will slow down the wave of regional restrictions and create a protective precedent for other AI platforms.

What This Means

The legal battle between xAI and Minnesota is becoming the first serious test case for the entire industry: can an individual U.S. state restrict the capabilities of global AI models without violating the Constitution. The court's answer will define the rules of the game for the generative AI industry for years to come.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are nudification apps?

Nudification apps use AI to generate images where a specific person is depicted without clothing, based on their regular photos and without their consent. This is a recognized form of digital violence that many U.S. states have begun to ban at the legislative level.

On what grounds is xAI challenging the Minnesota law?

xAI invokes the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which protects freedom of speech. The company argues that the law is written too broadly and effectively restricts the legitimate operation of AI platforms, not just abuses.