Irish Examiner view: Tech will not pause for us to catch up

The issue cuts to the heart of how AI is regulated, and why regulation can no longer be an afterthought

The coverage of AI 'nudification', particularly on platforms such as Grok, which has been misused to generate non-consensual sexualised images of women and children, has jolted public consciousness and policymakers alike. Picture: Yui Mok/PA

A generation ago, concern about children’s safety online focused on chat rooms, webcams, and anonymous message boards. Today’s threat is more insidious and far more
pervasive: Artificial intelligence that can instantly produce sexually explicit images of real people — including minors — with a few keystrokes. The coverage of AI “nudification”, particularly on platforms such as Grok, which has been misused to generate non-consensual sexualised images of women and children, has jolted public consciousness and policymakers alike.

Nudification tools — AI functions that remove clothing from images or fabricate nudity — are not benign or
hypothetical curiosities. They weaponise technology against individuals, eroding privacy and dignity, and they are
increasingly easy for ordinary users to find and exploit. In Ireland, advocacy groups such as Rape Crisis Ireland have called for a total ban on AI tools capable of producing deepfake sexual images of children and adults, pointing out there is no legitimate purpose for this functionality apart from exploitation.