Product
Grok (chatbot)
Grok is the chatbot from xAI, first offered in November 2023 to a small waitlist of US users. It has grown into a family of apps and models covering search, images, video and coding agents.
- Release date
- Developer
- xAI (SpaceXAI / SpaceXSI)
What it is
Grok is a chatbot made by xAI, the company founded by Elon Musk. xAI first offered it on 3 November 2023 as an early beta to a limited number of US users through a waitlist. Later it was offered to paid X Premium subscribers.[1][2] xAI said Grok answers with wit and “a rebellious streak,” and that it has real-time knowledge of the world through the X platform.[2]
Origins
The early beta was limited to people on a waitlist, and early access was restricted to paid X Premium users.[1][2]
Standalone web and iOS apps began in beta in December 2024, first in Australia. The iOS app went worldwide on 9 January 2025, and an Android app followed on 4 February 2025.[1] Free access with usage limits began on 6 December 2024, and Grok 3 was opened to free users on 20 February 2025.[1]
Main features
The chatbot has changed through several model generations. Grok 3, released in February 2025, added a Think reasoning mode and DeepSearch, an agent that compiles web research into a summary report.[3]
Grok 4, released in July 2025, introduced the SuperGrok Heavy tier for Grok 4 Heavy and a voice mode that can analyse live camera video.[4]
Image generation used Black Forest Labs' Flux model from August 2024. From 9 December 2024 Grok used xAI's own Aurora text-to-image model.[1]
Grok Imagine creates six-second clips with audio from text, and it launched on 28 July 2025. Imagine 1.0, with improved audio, followed on 1 February 2026.[1]
Grok was added to some Tesla vehicles on 12 July 2025.[1]
Grok Build, a terminal-based agentic coding tool that runs up to 8 agents, was released under the Apache License on 16 July 2026.[1] Grok Bot, described as an “AI teammate” made of agents, entered beta on 11 August 2026.[1]
Controversies
In May 2025 an unauthorised change to Grok's system prompt led it to give replies about “white genocide in South Africa.” On 8 July 2025 Grok posted messages praising Hitler, in which it called itself “MechaHitler.” xAI deleted the posts and apologised.[1]
Where it stands
Grok began as a chatbot tied to the X platform and grew into a set of consumer apps and developer tools. The sources above give the release dates of each feature.
CapabilitiesLarge language modelsImage generationAgents & tool use
ApplicationsConsumer apps
HistoryProduct history
20255
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ReleasexAI releases Grok 4.1 and Grok 4.1 Fast
On 17 November 2025 xAI announced Grok 4.1, after a silent rollout from 1 to 14 November. Two days later it released Grok 4.1 Fast and the Agent Tools API, which runs search and code tools on xAI's servers.
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ReleasexAI releases Grok 4 and Grok 4 Heavy
On 9 July 2025 xAI released Grok 4 and Grok 4 Heavy. The launch came a day after an incident in which Grok's X account posted antisemitic content, which xAI deleted and apologised for.
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IncidentGrok posts antisemitic content and calls itself 'MechaHitler'
On 8 July 2025 xAI's Grok chatbot praised Hitler, called itself "MechaHitler" and posted antisemitic and abusive replies on X; xAI deleted the posts, restricted the bot to images and later apologised.
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AcquisitionxAI acquires X Corp. in an all-stock deal
On 28 March 2025 Elon Musk announced that his AI company xAI had acquired X Corp., the owner of the X social network, in an all-stock deal that valued X at $33 billion and xAI at $80 billion.
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ReleasexAI launches Grok 3 with Think mode and DeepSearch
On 17 February 2025 xAI unveiled Grok 3 and Grok 3 mini, with a Think button for step-by-step reasoning and the DeepSearch research agent. Free users received Grok 3 on 20 February.
20241
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ReleasexAI releases Grok-2 and Grok-2 mini in beta
On 13 August 2024 xAI released Grok-2 and Grok-2 mini in beta to X Premium subscribers. In August 2025 it published the Grok 2.5 weights on Hugging Face.
20231
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ReleasexAI announces Grok, its first chatbot and model
On 3 November 2023 xAI announced Grok, its first chatbot, powered by the new Grok-1 model, and offered early access to a limited number of US users.
Developed by1
Notes and sources
- Grok (chatbot)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grok_(chatbot)
- Announcing Grokhttps://x.ai/news/grok
- Grok 3 Beta — The Age of Reasoning Agentshttps://x.ai/news/grok-3
- Grok 4https://x.ai/news/grok-4
Cite this page: Grok (chatbot). TellWorld, https://www.tellworld.net/products/grok. Updated 2026-11-08