Grok: a plain-English guide

What Grok is and who makes it

Grok is an AI assistant made by xAI, the AI company Elon Musk founded. xAI merged with the social network X and was then acquired by SpaceX in early 2026; in October 2026 the company began using the brand name SpaceXSI. You will still see "xAI" in many places, and the legal entity is called SpaceXAI LLC, but it is the same team behind Grok.

xAI introduced Grok as an assistant inspired by The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: witty, direct and willing to take on questions that other chatbots sometimes avoid. Its other trademark is a close link to X, which gives it quick access to what people are posting right now.

The Grok model family

Grok has moved through several numbered generations, and xAI updates it often. The main pieces are:

• Grok flagship models. As of October 2026, the current flagship is Grok 4.7, built for coding, agent tasks and knowledge work. It accepts text and images and lets you choose how much reasoning effort it spends.
• Grok Imagine. A separate model family for creating images and videos.
• Grok Voice. Speech models for spoken conversations in the apps and for voice agents built by developers.
• Grok Bot. An agent feature on higher paid plans that works on tasks on a persistent cloud computer.

The current Grok models are closed. xAI has published the weights of some older models: Grok-1 under the Apache 2.0 license, and Grok 2.5 under its own community license with restrictions. Those older releases are useful for research but are far behind today's Grok.

What Grok is good at

• Real-time topics. Grok can search X and the web, so it is handy for checking what people are saying about breaking news, trends or a product launch.
• Conversational tone. Many people enjoy its casual, humorous style, and it can switch to a more serious tone when you ask.
• Coding and reasoning. The flagship models are aimed at programming and multi-step problems, with adjustable reasoning effort.
• Images and video. Grok Imagine creates and edits images and short videos inside the same app.
• Files and connectors. You can upload PDFs, spreadsheets, images and code for analysis, and connect tools such as email, files and calendars.
• Voice. The apps support hands-free voice conversations.

Limits to keep in mind

Real-time posts are not the same as verified facts. Posts on X can be rumors, jokes or deliberate misinformation, and Grok can repeat them. For news, open the original sources and look for confirmation from established outlets. Our guide on fact-checking AI answers shows how.

Grok has drawn public criticism on several occasions for offensive or misleading answers, and xAI has changed its instructions and safeguards in response. Its looser style suits some people and not others. Free use has limits, and the strongest models, Grok Bot and higher usage need a paid plan. Like any AI model, it can also simply be wrong.

How to use Grok officially

You can use Grok at grok.com, in the Grok apps for iPhone and Android, and through the Grok tab inside X. Grok is free to start with limited usage. In October 2026 xAI introduced a new bundle called The X Subscription, which combines Grok usage with X Premium benefits in several paid tiers; older SuperGrok and X Premium plans continue for existing subscribers. Developers use the Grok models through xAI's API. The official link in the facts section of this page goes to grok.com.

Privacy notes

There are two places to check. On grok.com and in the Grok apps, go to Settings, then Data controls, and turn off "Improve the model" if you do not want your new chats used for training. Grok also has separate controls for memory and for personalization based on your X account.

If you use X, your public posts and your Grok interactions on X can be used to train Grok unless you opt out. On X, open Settings and privacy, then Privacy and safety, then Grok and Third-party Collaborators, and untick the data sharing options. Posts from protected (private) accounts are not used. Grok on X is governed by X's terms rather than Grok's own consumer terms. Opting out affects future data, not data already used. See our AI privacy and safety guide for general habits.

How Grok compares

Grok's main advantage is live awareness of X; ChatGPT is the broader all-rounder with a larger set of tools and a more measured tone. Gemini is stronger if you depend on Google's apps, and Claude is often preferred for long documents and careful writing. If open weights matter to you, look at DeepSeek or Qwen instead. Read Grok vs ChatGPT for a full side-by-side.

FAQ

Is Grok free?

Yes, Grok has a free tier with limited chat use. Paid plans raise limits and unlock the latest models, Grok Bot and more image and video creation.

Do I need an X account to use Grok?

No. You can use Grok on grok.com or in the Grok apps with other sign-in options. An X account is only needed for Grok inside X and for X-based personalization.

Is Grok open source?

The current models are not. xAI has released the weights of older models, Grok-1 and Grok 2.5, but today's Grok is closed.

Why is Grok's company called SpaceXSI?

xAI became part of SpaceX in 2026 and was renamed twice that year, first SpaceXAI and then SpaceXSI. The Grok product name did not change.

Is ChatG connected to Grok or xAI?

No. ChatG is an independent AI chat website and is not affiliated with xAI, SpaceX or X. This page is an informational guide. You can try ChatG free in your browser.