X rolls out automatic translation and Grok-powered photo editing

X is rolling out two new features powered by xAI’s Grok models: automatic translation for all posts and an AI photo editor that responds to natural language commands.

Head of product Nikita Bier announced the automatic translation feature late Tuesday. It is now live worldwide. Users can tap the gear icon on any translated post to toggle automatic translation for specific languages. The translations run on Grok and have improved significantly in recent months.

The platform is also launching a new photo editor for iOS. The update includes drawing tools, text overlays, and a blur tool for redacting sensitive details like faces or credit card numbers.

The bigger addition is AI-powered editing. Users can ask Grok to modify images using natural language prompts. Type “display this photo as a painting in a museum” and Grok generates that version. This pushes X beyond basic filters into generative image manipulation territory.

The timing is notable. Reddit has been experimenting with machine translation for years. Meta and Snap have had AI photo tools for a while. X is playing catch-up but leveraging its own AI stack rather than licensing from competitors.

The features also raise familiar concerns. X already faced criticism in January when Grok generated nonconsensual deepfakes. The company added safeguards but the underlying model remains capable of generating controversial content. Giving users AI editing tools inside the posting flow could amplify misinformation or harassment if moderation lags behind.

For now the photo editor is iOS-only. Android is coming “soon” according to the company. The translation feature is already live across all platforms.