Reports suggest that xAI asked its workers to provide biometric information, such as facial scans and voice recordings, to assist in developing its anime-inspired chatbot, Ani.
The Wall Street Journal reports that collecting this data was part of a secret company program called Project Skippy.
In July, X introduced Ani as a feature for its $30-a-month SuperGrok subscribers. Ani is an AI-powered avatar designed to feel more like a human companion, utilizing the Grok AI.
The Journal reports that xAI had “AI tutors” sign agreements giving the company extensive rights to use their image and voice without paying royalties. Some of these tutors expressed concerns, worried their likenesses could be used to create misleading deepfakes or that the chatbot might generate inappropriate, sexually suggestive content.
Project Skippy and employee concerns
xAI received permission to use employee faces and voices forever and across the globe. Employees signed forms allowing this data to be used to make their AI assistant, Ani, more realistic and to develop future AI companions connected to Grok.
Workers who raised concerns about the request were informed it was essential to xAI’s goals. Reports indicate some employees felt uneasy with the design of the AI assistant, Ani, believing it had characteristics similar to those found in fictional anime characters.
Almost as soon as she was released, people started comparing her to other famous women, both in real life and from fiction, suggesting she was inspired by figures like Grimes or Misa Amane from Death Note.
Following a few years together, Grimes suggested that Elon Musk’s AI assistant, Ani, was inspired by her. She made this connection with the release of the music video for her song ‘Artificial Angels,’ which prominently featured Ani and included scenes of the singer dancing with the AI chatbot.
Fans in Japan quickly embraced Ani after its global release, leading to a significant increase in the Grok app’s popularity.
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2025-11-05 23:48