X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, is poised to expand access to its AI chatbot, Grok, by offering a free version to users. Previously exclusive to X’s Premium subscribers, Grok is now being tested in certain regions, including New Zealand, with free access for eligible users.
Grok, developed by Elon Musk’s xAI, has undergone significant advancements since its launch. In August, Grok-2 was introduced with image generation capabilities, followed by the ability to understand and analyze images. These features, however, were limited to X’s paid users.
The free version of Grok comes with some usage restrictions. Users are limited to 10 queries every two hours with the Grok-2 model and 20 queries with the Grok-2 mini model. Image analysis is capped at three questions per day. To qualify for free access, users must have an account that is at least seven days old and linked to a phone number.
By offering a free tier, X aims to broaden Grok’s user base and accelerate the feedback cycle, enabling xAI to refine its AI model more rapidly. This move positions Grok as a competitor to other popular AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini.
This development comes on the heels of reports that xAI is seeking to raise billions of dollars in funding at a valuation of $40 billion. With ambitious plans for Grok and its other AI projects, xAI is clearly aiming to become a major player in the evolving AI landscape.
