Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company, xAI, is reportedly set to unveil a standalone app for its Grok AI chatbot, according to sources cited by The Verge and The Wall Street Journal. The app could be launched as early as December, marking a significant move for xAI as it seeks to compete with dominant players in the AI space, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini.
At present, Grok is exclusively available on X (formerly Twitter), where it is integrated into the platform. Unlike its competitors, which offer standalone applications for Android and iOS, Grok is not available as a separate download. Furthermore, there is no free-tier option for the service. Users must subscribe to X Premium or Premium Plus to access the chatbot, a business model that has been in place since the service’s launch. However, xAI is reportedly exploring the possibility of offering a free version of Grok in the future.
Earlier this month, TechCrunch reported that the free version of Grok had started to appear on X in select regions, including New Zealand. This move has been seen as a potential way to attract a broader user base by offering a limited version of the AI without a paid subscription. In regions where the free version is available, there are usage limits. Users are allowed to make up to 10 queries every two hours with the Grok-2 AI model and up to 20 queries every two hours with the Grok-2 mini model. Additionally, the free version allows three image analysis queries per day.
The free version also comes with specific restrictions: users must have accounts that are at least seven days old and must have linked a phone number to their account. While the free version is still being rolled out in select locations, it is expected to become available to more users in the near future, as xAI looks to expand its reach.
The launch of the standalone app is set to be a significant development for xAI. Currently, Grok’s functionality is limited to interactions within the X platform, but the introduction of a standalone app could offer a more dedicated and accessible space for users to engage with the AI. It would also allow xAI to build on the growing demand for AI-driven tools and chatbots, as businesses and individuals alike increasingly turn to such technologies for a variety of tasks.
Grok itself has been evolving rapidly since its launch in August. At that time, xAI introduced the Grok-2 and Grok-2 mini AI models, which incorporated image-generation capabilities, a feature that set Grok apart from some of its competitors. In October, xAI further enhanced Grok’s capabilities with the addition of image-understanding features. This allows users to upload images and ask the chatbot questions about the content of those images, expanding the range of tasks Grok can assist with.
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Moreover, Elon Musk has confirmed that xAI is working on further enhancements to Grok, with plans to introduce document-understanding features in the near future. This would enable Grok to retrieve information from files such as PDFs and Word documents, adding another layer of functionality that could position it as a versatile tool for both personal and professional use.
The anticipated launch of the standalone Grok app represents an important step for xAI as it looks to strengthen its position in the highly competitive AI market. By offering a more accessible and user-friendly platform for its chatbot, xAI could attract a larger audience and provide a serious alternative to established players like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini.
As AI continues to advance, the demand for sophisticated, intuitive chatbots like Grok is likely to grow, and the launch of a dedicated app could be the catalyst xAI needs to expand its user base and push the boundaries of what conversational AI can achieve.
