X pushes Grok's image generator behind a paywall, sparking safety-focused criticism

When X rolled the curtain on Grok's image-creation suite, it did so with a subscription gate that many in the tech community saw as a half-measure. The decision followed a wave of international outcry over the tool's potential for misuse, yet the platform's response leaned on revenue rather than robust safeguards. Insiders note that the move feels more like a cash-grab than a genuine effort to curb harmful content, leaving creators and watchdogs uneasy about the company's priorities. Critics argue that without clear moderation protocols, the paywall merely filters out casual users while leaving determined bad actors unfazed. The episode underscores a broader tension in the industry: the lure of monetizing cutting-edge AI versus the responsibility to embed safety at its core. As the debate unfolds, X's next steps will be watched closely by rivals and regulators alike, all keen to see whether profit will finally give way to principled stewardship.