Grok, xAI's innovative chatbot, was recently uncovered on X's web app in screenshots. X owner Elon Musk revealed Grok will be available to Premium+ subscribers next week.
Despite Musk's occasionally unpredictable timelines, internal code changes within X's app indicated ongoing integration efforts for Grok.
App researcher Nima Owji shared exclusive screenshots showcasing Grok's addition to X's web app, as reported by TechCrunch. The URL, expected to be twitter.com/i/grok, suggests an imminent public release. Noteworthy features include prompts inviting non-subscribers to upgrade for Grok access and an "Ask Grok" text entry box, emphasizing Grok's approaching launch.
This strategic addition could potentially boost sign-ups for X's Premium subscription, which underwent a recent transformation from Twitter Blue to X Premium. The tiered subscription model now includes a $3 per month Basic subscription, an $8 per month X Premium subscription, and a $16 per month Premium+ subscription, offering an ad-free experience and introducing a Creator Hub for user-generated content.
Yeah.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 22, 2023
Grok should be available to all X Premium+ subscribers next week.
Grok is set to join the Premium+ tier, presenting an incentive for users beyond content creators to subscribe. This move comes amid challenges for X, including an advertiser exodus due to concerns about antisemitic content and criticism of Elon Musk's behavior.
Grok: AI Chatbot with Humor
Grok, introduced on November 4 to select testers, is positioned as Musk's response to AI rivals like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Bard. Touting a distinctive personality, Grok is expected to provide witty responses, boasting a "rebellious streak." The chatbot aims to address "spicy" questions rejected by other AI systems. Beyond personality, Grok's key differentiator lies in its real-time access to knowledge via the X platform.
Grok's impending debut coincides with recent upheavals at rival AI company OpenAI, where CEO Sam Altman faced a board rebellion, stepped down, and later returned after negotiations. Altman has acknowledged Grok's arrival, engaging in a light-hearted exchange regarding the chatbot's comedic capabilities.
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Elon Musk's exit from OpenAI resulted in the creation of xAI, his AI firm, featuring the AI Chatbot Grok, according to VOA. Trained similarly to ChatGPT and Meta's Llama 2, Grok offers real-time information on X and web search capabilities.
Earlier, the business magnate jokingly remarked on Grok that he "loves sarcasm." Derived from Robert Heinlein's 1961 novel "Stranger in a Strange Land," the term "Grok" signifies a deep and intuitive understanding.
Possible Concerns Raised
The X Premium+ plan, introduced in October for $16 per month, offers an ad-free experience on Musk's social network, which he acquired a year ago. Elon Musk initiated xAI in July, assembling a team of researchers from OpenAI, Google DeepMind, Tesla, and the University of Toronto.
In its blog post, xAI revealed that Grok-1, powered by a large language model (LLM), has surpassed the capabilities of GPT-3.5, the LLM behind the publicly available ChatGPT, particularly excelling in tasks such as solving high school math problems, per CNN.
The company noted that Grok-1 is only outperformed by models like GPT-4, which were trained with significantly more data and computational resources. Elon Musk, expressing AI development concerns, anticipates rapid improvement for Grok as X's users contribute more information.
However, this prospect raises potential concerns among critics of the tech mogul's management of the platform since acquiring the company last year. Elon Musk, known for being a "free speech absolutist," has emphasized his reluctance to delete content and permanently ban users under his leadership.
