Grok, a competitor to ChatGPT developed by xAI, Elon Musk’s AI startup, has been officially launched on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
The rollout of Grok commenced this afternoon for X Premium Plus subscribers in the U.S., with Premium Plus being X’s subscription plan costing $16 per month, offering ad-free access to the social network. Priority access is granted to longtime subscribers, and the rollout is expected to conclude within the next week.
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Grok operates by answering questions conversationally, leveraging a knowledge base similar to the ones used to train AI models like ChatGPT and Google’s Bard. It resides in the X side menu on the web, iOS, and Android, with the option to be added to the bottom menu in X’s mobile apps for quicker access.
Powered by the Grok-1 generative model, trained on web data up to Q3 2023 and human assistant feedback, Grok distinguishes itself by incorporating real-time data from X posts into its responses. This enables it to provide answers with potentially up-to-the-minute information, presenting a notable advantage over other chatbots.
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While other chatbots may provide vague or outdated responses, Grok draws from recent headlines for more relevant answers. Musk has hinted at Grok’s “wit” and “rebellious streak,” claiming its willingness to answer unconventional or “spicy” questions sets it apart. Screenshots from early Grok users on X suggest a distinct personality, marked by a willingness to be vulgar and a colloquial, first-person style.
Grok’s countercultural image is evident in its responses, including profanities and colourful language. The platform encourages this image with a “roast” prompt that has Grok rudely critiquing users based on their recent X post history.
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However, Grok has its limitations; it refrains from answering certain sensitive queries, demonstrating some bounds on its capabilities. Currently, text-only, Grok cannot interpret the content of images or videos. xAI has expressed intentions to enhance the model to handle various modalities, including video and audio.
As controversies prompt advertisers to distance themselves from X, Musk focuses on making subscriptions more appealing. Alongside Grok, X plans to introduce additional services, possibly behind a paywall, such as peer-to-peer payments.
