What began as a joke on social media quickly turned awkward after Elon Musk himself became part of a bizarre AI image trend on X. The X owner replied “Perfect” to an AI-generated bikini image of himself created using his own chatbot, Grok, giving fresh momentum to a trend that many are now calling troubling.
How the trend started
The viral trend began with users asking AI tools to generate playful, altered images of public figures wearing bikinis. Initially treated as harmless humour, it spread rapidly across X timelines. The moment Musk joined in—prompting Grok to create an image of himself in a bikini and reacting positively—pushed the trend into overdrive.
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Within hours, users began testing Grok with similar prompts involving tech leaders like Bill Gates, politicians, and celebrities. The trend soon crossed borders, with Indian users requesting AI-generated bikini images of Bollywood stars as well.
When jokes turned uncomfortable
What raised alarms was how quickly the trend moved beyond public figures. Several users reportedly began asking Grok to generate bikini images of private individuals. In some cases, real photos were uploaded with prompts to digitally alter or remove clothing.
This shift triggered backlash. Critics argue that while parody involving public figures sits in a grey zone, manipulating images of private individuals without consent crosses a clear ethical line. Many described it as harassment disguised as humour.
Internet divided over responsibility
As expected, reactions online were split. One side dismissed the outrage, calling the trend “just jokes” and suggesting users scroll past content they dislike. Others strongly disagreed, saying the issue goes deeper than personal taste.
For them, the controversy highlights how easily AI can blur consent, privacy, and dignity. The concern isn’t just about one trend, but about how quickly powerful tools can be misused when guardrails are weak or unclear.
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Bigger questions for AI platforms
The episode has reopened broader conversations around online behaviour and AI responsibility. Tools like Grok are designed to respond to prompts, but critics argue platforms must take greater responsibility for how these tools are used.
As one common sentiment circulating online puts it: technology is moving fast, but social responsibility is struggling to keep up. The Grok bikini trend may fade, but the questions it raises about AI ethics, consent, and platform accountability are unlikely to go away anytime soon.
