It seems Elon Musk's Grok AI chatbot has decided to lose the paywall and now everyone can access it for free. Since its debut in 2023, Grok, courtesy of Musk's xAI, has been integrated into X (formerly Twitter), but you had to pay for an X premium subscription to use it.
Now, several users have noticed that the rules have changed. Non-premium users can now send up to 10 messages to Grok every two hours.
Grok isn't just any AI. It's a “humorous AI assistant” that came out of xAI last year. But access was limited, requiring a subscription that started at $8 a month. Musk's xAI had even started testing a free version in places like New Zealand last month.
This move to make Grok free could change the game since it opens the doors to compete with other free chatbot images already out there.
Grok: The Features and Limitations
Grok is known for its chatty nature, but it can also serve as a multi-functional assistant. It can help with research and explanations of trending topics, offer coding assistance, and even handle customer service inquiries for businesses.
It's built on a generative AI model that was trained on a massive scale using data from X.
While xAI hasn’t put out a formal announcement saying Grok’s open to everyone, many users have shared their experiences using Grok without a subscription.
But this feature does come with some strings attached.
The free tier allows non-premium users to send no more than 10 questions to the chatbot every two hours. They can only analyze three images and generate four images each day.
Users who subscribe to X’s Premium and Premium+ plans, which cost $7 and $14 a month respectively, can ask up to 50 questions per day and have greater access to the AI tool.
The Competitive AI Landscape
Making Grok free has ramped up competition among chatbots, including ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini.
ChatGPT 4, the latest model, allows 10 questions every five hours. In contrast, Grok allows ten questions every two hours for non-paying users.
While ChatGPT’s responses are mostly formal in style, Grok tends to be more informal.
Some users say that Grok answers questions that ChatGPT doesn't. Plus, Grok has real-time data access while ChatGPT mainly uses pre-trained data.
Musk has hinted that Grok might get even more features like document processing for formats like PDFs and Word files. Such capabilities could help Grok stand out in a crowded market.
Musk's AI Vision
This update comes at a crucial time since xAI recently snagged $6 billion in funding, pushing its valuation over $40 billion. Some of that money is being used to expand xAI’s supercomputer facility in Memphis, Tennessee. Colossus, a powerful supercomputer, is located there and is key to Musk’s AI ambitions as he tries to outpace OpenAI.
Musk has also intensified his legal battle with OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman as part of this expansion. He’s now added Microsoft to the lawsuit, accusing both companies of monopolistic practices in the AI space.
A New Landscape for AI Tools
The removal of Grok AI's paywall indicates a significant shift in the AI space. By going free, Grok AI not only challenges established players like ChatGPT but also opens new doors for users globally. With its real-time data access, engaging interactions, and potential future enhancements, Grok could be a serious contender in the AI market. As Musk pushes the envelope in AI tech, it's a promising time for Grok and its users.
