In August, Elon Musk's xAI promised to make Grok, its flagship generative AI model that powers many of the features on X, available via API. Well, that API is here. However, it currently only has the bare minimum functionality.
The xAI API has only one model, “grok-beta”, and is priced at $5 per million input tokens (approximately 750,000 words) or $15 per million output tokens. Tokens are subdivisions of raw data, such as the syllables “fan,” “tas,” and “tic” in the word “fantastic.”
It is unclear which Grok model “grok-beta” is. Grok 2 is the latest version of X. The API documentation mentions Grok 2 and Grok mini, a lightweight and affordable version of Grok. So this might be a technical issue.
Image credit:xAI
The xAI API supports function calls that connect Grok models to external tools such as databases and search engines. And although it doesn't appear to be in production yet, the documentation hints at a vision model that can analyze both text and images.
Musk founded xAI last year. Shortly thereafter, the company released its first Grok model to X to X Premium+ users who pay $16 per month.
Grok is increasingly ingrained in the X experience. Thanks to integration with the open image generation tool Flux, Grok can generate images on top of X (without controversial guardrails). This is a summary of news and trending events (often incorrect, please bear with me), and may include future enhancements to X's search, account bio, post analysis, and reply features. There is a gender.
Musk said this summer that xAI is training the next generation of Grok models at its Memphis data center, which has been blamed for worsening smog with unlicensed turbines. The company hopes to upgrade its data center next year, but that would require approval from the Tennessee Valley Authority.
xAI is racing to catch up with strong competitors such as OpenAI and Anthropic in the generative AI race. In May, xAI raised $6 billion in a funding round led by investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia Capital, and Fidelity.
Musk often claims that X's data gives xAI an advantage over its rivals. This month, X changed its privacy policy to allow third parties, including xAI, to train models on X's posts.
Grok also has what Musk described as a “rebellious personality,” willing to answer “tough questions that most other AI systems would refuse.” For example, if you're called vulgar, Grok will gladly go along with it, spouting profanity and colorful language that you won't hear on ChatGPT.