On December 15, 2024, Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company, xAI, announced that its upgraded Grok-2 AI chatbot will now be available for free to all users on X. This move aims to enhance user engagement and accessibility to advanced AI capabilities.
Enhanced features of Grok-2
When it launched in August 2024, Grok-2 was a big step up from its model. It’s three times faster, better at following directions, and can help with multiple languages.
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Key features include:
Real-time insights: A new “Grok” button allows users to access contextual information about trending topics directly from their timeline.
Image generation: The chatbot can create photorealistic images and memes, enhancing users’ creative possibilities.
Web integration: Grok utilises X and the broader Internet to provide accurate answers, complete with citations for verification.
Musk stated, “Over the past few weeks, we have been quietly testing a new version of the Grok-2 model… Today, we are excited to announce that we are beginning to roll out this new version of Grok-2 to all users on X for free”.
This free access is part of xAI’s strategy to attract more users while offering premium features for paying subscribers.
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User engagement and fun
Musk has promoted Grok-2 as “the world’s most fun AI,” emphasising its entertaining aspects. Users can interact with Grok in a “fun” mode that encourages creativity and humour in responses. This approach aims to attract a diverse user base eager to explore the limits of AI capabilities.
Grok-2’s interaction with X provides real-time data, making it a unique tool for those seeking current data on numerous topics.
This makes Grok-2 a viable alternative to ChatGPT in terms of user engagement and participation.
When refining Grok-2, xAI balances creative features with ethical concerns about misrepresentation and user privacy. Grok-2’s direct integration into X improves user experience and raises problems about AI in social media.