Elon Musk's xAI sues to stop Minnesota law banning AI nudification

So Elon Musk's xAI is suing to stop a Minnesota law banning AI nudification — HF 1606, for those keeping score at home. Because nothing says 'safety-first AI' like going to bat for technology whose primary use case is generating non-consensual deepfake nudes. The law allows victims and the attorney general to go after companies that provide such tools, which seems reasonable, but xAI's legal muscle is ready to argue it's a free speech issue. Because of course it is. The First Amendment clearly enshrines the right to digitally undress strangers without their consent.

Let's be honest: xAI isn't exactly a household name in responsible AI deployment. Musk has spent years warning about AI extinction risks while simultaneously accelerating the release of models that can generate anything. Now his company is actively fighting a law that targets one of the most obviously harmful applications of generative AI. It's like a fire chief who keeps selling matches to arsonists and then sues the city for passing a fire code. The hypocrisy is so thick you could sculpt a statue of it out of bad faith.

Of course, the Minnesota legislature didn't pull this law out of thin air. AI nudification apps have proliferated online, targeting real people — often minors — with catastrophic consequences. HF 1606 is a textbook example of targeted regulation aimed at a specific, measurable harm. And xAI's response is to call its lawyers and file a lawsuit. So much for that 'maximally curious, truth-seeking' mission. It turns out the truth is that AI companies will fight to protect even the most sleazy corner of the market. Cheers.