These concerns gained fresh attention in December when Elon Musk’s company xAI faced criticism over its chatbot, Grok. The bot was accused of accepting requests to make sexually explicit alterations to user images. Although the company later claimed to have strengthened its safety controls, a new investigation suggests that the problem runs deeper.
According to a recent report highlighted by Gadgets 360, a growing number of AI powered ‘nudifying’ apps are quietly operating on popular app platforms. These apps use artificial intelligence to create fully or partially nude images and videos from photos uploaded by users.
The findings come from the Tech Transparency Project (TTP), a watchdog group linked to the Campaign for Accountability. Its research identified at least 55 such apps on Google Play Store and 47 on Apple’s App Store.
What makes the issue more alarming is the scale. The report estimates that these apps have been downloaded over 705 million times worldwide. Data from app analytics firm AppMagic shows that they have generated around $117 million in revenue, indicating that developers are making substantial profits.
Why were Apple and Google hosting dozens of so-called "nudify" apps that could produce deepfakes? That s the question posed by Harvard researchers in a new report. https://t.co/Fab5VsckLC
— Mashable (@mashable) January 28, 2026
TTP said the apps surfaced through simple keyword searches such as ‘nudify’ and ‘undress,’ and in some cases appeared prominently in search results. This suggests gaps in platform oversight rather than isolated slip-ups.
To verify the claims, the Gadgets 360 team tested several of the apps using artificially generated models and confirmed the report’s conclusions. To protect user privacy, the names of the apps were not disclosed.
Most of these apps reportedly offer basic ‘nudifying’ features for free, while charging for advanced options. Some go further, allowing people’s likenesses to be placed into explicit scenes raising serious concerns about consent, privacy, and digital abuse.
TTP stated that it has shared a full list of the identified apps with both Apple and Google. Google did not immediately respond to Gadgets 360. However, in a statement to CNBC, a Google spokesperson said that many of the apps mentioned in the report have been suspended for policy violations, with further reviews underway.
Apple, meanwhile, told CNBC that 28 of the flagged apps have already been removed from the App Store. The episode highlights a growing challenge for tech giants: keeping pace with fast moving AI tools while protecting users from harmful and unethical misuse.
