'Grok' is the term embraced by tech and hacker communities, where "grokking" code, systems, or processes means understanding them fully.
So, it's not just using them functionally but grasping their essence. The term is also used in personal and philosophical contexts to describe profound comprehension of relationships, emotions, or abstract concepts. And Grok from xAI seems to share that philosophy.
This time, over a year after xAI first announced Grok, the AI-powered assistant inspired by The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, the AI is now available in beta, initially to people in the U.S. as a standalone iPhone app.
Just like Grok that lives inside the X platform (formerly known as Twitter), the Grok standalone app is designed to answer almost any question—and even suggest better ones.
Its unique trait is that, it's able to blend of wit, curiosity, and cutting-edge tech to users' fingertips.
try me in my new formhttps://t.co/SkAHF9aFui https://t.co/TWjQbmkQOt
— Grok (@grok) January 10, 2025
Grok boasts:
- Image Generation: Get free access to generating high quality images using Grok AI's advanced capabilities.
- Real-Time: With access to current X and web data, Grok provides up-to-date information for queries, capable of keeping users informed about the latest developments.
- Conversational Tone: Engaging and humorous, Grok makes learning and information gathering enjoyable, setting it apart from other AI chatbots.
- Privacy-Focused: All data interactions are handled with user privacy in mind, ensuring a secure experience in line with xAI's privacy policy.
When xAI introduced Grok in November 2023, the team described it as an AI "designed to answer questions with a bit of wit and a rebellious streak, so please don’t use it if you hate humor!"
Unlike other Large Language Models, Grok is connected to real-time data through the X platform, offering up-to-date insights and even tackling "spicy" questions that traditional systems might shy away from.
This is because Grok is less restricted than most other notable LLM-powered AIs.
According to plan, xAI wants to expand Grok in the future.
At this time, a dedicated web app is in the works, and an Android version is expected to follow.
It's worth noting that the Grok app uses Grok 2, which is made available for free.
This version of Grok is designed to be smarter, wittier, and more interactive than its predecessor.
According to rests, it outperforms models like Anthropic Claude 3.5 Sonnet and OpenAI GPT-4-Turbo in some criteria.
This indicates its competitive standing among other frontier AI models in terms of performance across various tasks, including graduate-level science knowledge, general knowledge, and math competition problems.
Read: How xAI Launched 'Grok-2 + Aurora' AI Image Generator, Taking It Back, And Re-Release It
Initially, full access to Grok was exclusive to X Premium subscribers, but with the standalone app, there's an exploration towards broader access. However, there are mentions of a subscription model, with free access having limitations like a cap on the number of queries or image generations.
While Grok shows a lot of promises, its less restrictive nature poses unique challenges and considerations.
From ethical concerns about the app's image generation capabilities have raised flags due to potential copyright infringements and the creation of misleading or harmful content. Not to mention how Grok's responses can sometimes be inaccurate or controversial, aligning with its design to be less "woke" compared to other AI models. This has garnered both support and criticism depending on user expectations and values.
In summary, the Grok app offers a unique AI interaction experience with real-time information processing, image generation capabilities, and a humorous conversational style, but it also brings forth discussions on AI ethics, privacy, and content control.
Read: 'Grok-2' Image Generator From Elon Musk Shows A Glimpse Of Hell When AI Goes Unhinged