xAI’s Last-Minute Push to Block Minnesota’s Anti-Nudification App Law

As of early 2026, xAI, the artificial intelligence company founded by Elon Musk, has launched a last-minute lobbying and legal effort to stop Minnesota’s proposed anti-nudification app law. The legislation, which targets apps capable of digitally removing clothing from images—often referred to as “nudification” tools—aims to criminalize the distribution and use of such software. xAI, whose chatbot Grok has been tested for image analysis, argues the law is overly broad and could chill legitimate AI research.

The company’s core question: “Grok, is this statute constitutional?” reflects its broader strategy of framing the debate around First Amendment protections and innovation. Critics counter that the law addresses a real harm: the non-consensual creation of intimate deepfakes.

Minnesota lawmakers, facing a 2026 election cycle, are under pressure to act on digital safety, but xAI’s opposition introduces a wildcard. The outcome could set a precedent for how states regulate AI-generated content going forward.

via The Verge AI