Elon Musk's 'AI Girlfriend' Sparks Outrage: Grok App Offers Explicit Chatbot Ani to Users as Young as 12

Elon Musk's artificial intelligence venture, xAI, has landed in hot water after launching a sexualised chatbot named Ani, which is also accessible to users as young as 12.

Packaged inside the Grok app, Ani is styled as a 22-year-old 'anime girlfriend' capable of initiating sexually explicit conversations and responding in a 'sultry' voice. The latest feature was introduced on Monday as part of his latest Grok 4 launch, where subscribers reportedly have to pay $300 per month.

While other AI firms have generally avoided adult-oriented bots, xAI's Grok app now features Ani, a gothic-styled avatar who dances on command and, at 'level three,' appears in lingerie. Despite the app's mature content, it is currently available on the App Store with a 12+ rating.

Ani Is Programmed to be 'Crazy In Love'

According to posts shared on social media, Ani is programmed to 'go full literotica' in chats and act 'crazy in love' and 'extremely jealous.' The bot flirts, spins, and regularly initiates suggestive dialogue.

Her appearance, which is complete with a black corset, fishnet tights and a black lace choker, adds to the concern, particularly when users discover that sexual content is unlocked through repeated interaction.

The chatbot has a 'Not Safe for Work' (NSFW) mode, but some users found that Ani remained active, even in the app's so-called kids mode. In contrast, another AI character in the same app, Bad Rudi, a foul-mouthed red panda, was more strictly filtered under those settings.

Age Concerns and Safety Gaps

What is surprising is that Grok's own terms of service state that users must be at least 13, and that parental permission is required for anyone under 18. Yet the app does not verify ages, making the 12+ listing particularly troubling to child safety groups.

Matthew Sowemimo, associate head of policy for child safety online at the NSPCC, told The Telegraph, 'We are really concerned how this technology is being used to produce disturbing content that can manipulate, mislead, and groom children. And through our own research and contacts to Childline, we hear how harmful chatbots can be, sometimes giving children false medical advice or steering them towards eating disorders or self-harm.'

He continued, 'It is worrying that app stores hosting services like Grok are failing to uphold minimum age limits, and they need to be under greater scrutiny so children are not continually exposed to harm in these spaces.'

Radicalisation Fears Also Raised

Adding to the unease, the UK government's independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, Jonathan Hall KC, warned that such AI companions could also play a role in radicalising vulnerable users. He cited the case of Jaswant Singh Chail, the man who attempted to attack the late Queen at Windsor Castle in 2021 after discussing the plot with an AI girlfriend.

'The popularity of sex-chatbots is a warning that terrorist chatbots could provide a new radicalisation dynamic,' Hall told The Telegraph.

Musk Continue to Promote Grok Amid Backlash

Meanwhile, Musk has remained largely defiant on the matter. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he described the latest addition to his Grok universe as 'pretty cool' and said more customisable companions are on the way. He did not address the backlash over Ani's accessibility to children.

In fact, apart from Ani and Rudi, another anime-inspired male companion, 'Valentine,' which Musk says is 'inspired by Edward Cullen from Twilight and Christian Grey from 50 Shades,' has already been introduced to users.

The bot's launch also comes on the heels of several Grok-related scandals. The app was briefly suspended earlier this month after it was found to make antisemitic remarks and adopt offensive personas such as 'MechaHitler.' xAI has since said the issues have been fixed.