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X Tests Free Version of AI Chatbot Grok to Expand User Access

Author

Alicia Shapiro
November 11, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes

A close-up view of a smartphone screen displaying the AI chatbot Grok on the X social media platform. The interface shows a user interacting with Grok, with clear text responses in a sleek, modern design and Grok's logo visible. The background is a simple, clean gradient that keeps focus on the phone and the chatbot interface, highlighting the interactive nature of Grok’s functionality and emphasizing its accessibility for free users

Image Source: ChatGPT-4o

X Tests Free Version of AI Chatbot Grok to Expand User Access

Social media platform X is testing a free version of its AI chatbot, Grok, which was previously only accessible to premium subscribers. Built by Elon Musk’s AI-focused company xAI, Grok is designed to provide information, answer questions, and engage users in conversation. This test could mark a significant shift, expanding Grok’s reach beyond X’s premium users and allowing more people to try the AI chatbot.

Testing Free Access to Grok

Over the weekend, reports from app researchers and users indicated that free access to Grok had been enabled for certain regions. TechCrunch confirmed that X is currently testing free access in New Zealand, but it appears that users in other regions will have to wait. Previously limited to X Premium users, Grok could soon be available to a broader audience, potentially increasing engagement on the platform.

Grok’s Evolution and Capabilities

Grok’s development has advanced significantly since Grok-2 launched in August, featuring image generation capabilities powered by Black Forest Labs’ FLUX.1 model. In October, xAI further enhanced Grok’s abilities to analyze and understand images, making it a more versatile chatbot. By potentially offering free access, X may aim to introduce these capabilities to a larger audience, positioning Grok as a competitor to popular AI models like ChatGPT, Claude, and Google’s Gemini.

Access and Usage Limits

Current usage restrictions remain in place for the free version of Grok. Usage limits allow for:

  • 10 queries per two hours on the Grok-2 model,

  • 20 queries per two hours on the Grok-2 mini model, and

  • 3 image analysis questions per day.

To access Grok for free, users need to have an account at least seven days old and linked to a verified phone number, likely to maintain some security and quality standards as access expands.

Aiming for a Broader Audience

Testing free access to Grok aligns with xAI’s goal to broaden its user base and gather faster, more extensive feedback on its product, which could help xAI refine Grok more effectively and increase its competitiveness in the AI market. By expanding access, X aims to attract more users to its platform, potentially positioning itself as a key player in the generative AI space alongside established tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini.

If successful, this expansion strategy could cement X and xAI’s positions as significant players in the consumer AI landscape, especially as demand grows for versatile and interactive AI tools.

Editor’s Note: This article was created by Alicia Shapiro, CMO of AiNews.com, with writing, image, and idea-generation support from ChatGPT, an AI assistant. However, the final perspective and editorial choices are solely Alicia Shapiro’s. Special thanks to ChatGPT for assistance with research and editorial support in crafting this article.