▾The AI chatbot Grok by xAI, previously available only to paying X users, is now open to the general public. The free version comes with a limited number of queries but still offers access to powerful features such as image generation and understanding. Does this mark a new era in the accessibility of artificial intelligence?
Company X, formerly known as Twitter, is set to make its AI chatbot Grok available to all users of the social network. Until now, it was accessible only to paying users of premium services. Some believe this is Elon Musk's attempt to compete with other AI chatbots, including ChatGPT.
Grok will now be accessible to everyone
According to information from users and app researchers, it seems that the free version of Grok is already being tested in some regions, including New Zealand. More locations are expected to be added gradually. Although free access to Grok is great news, it comes with certain limitations.
According to available information, it will be possible to make 10 queries with the Grok-2 model, while the Grok-2 mini model will allow 20 queries every two hours. Image analysis will be limited to three queries per day. To access the free Grok, users will also need to have an account at least seven days old and link it with a phone number.
From generating images to understanding them
Grok-2, launched in August by xAI, initially boasted the ability to generate images thanks to the FLUX.1 technology from Black Forest Labs. Late last month, xAI enhanced the model with the ability to understand images, which opens up fascinating possibilities.
By making Grok available for free, xAI is likely aiming to expand its user base and expedite feedback needed for further development. Moreover, Grok could quickly become a direct competitor to other AI chatbots, including ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. Whether it will succeed in this battle of titans remains to be seen.
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