Social media platform X (formerly Twitter) is now offering a free user test for its AI chat assistant, Grok. This AI tool, developed by Elon Musk's xAI company, was previously only available to paid members, but now it is poised for a significant transformation.
According to feedback from multiple app researchers and users, X has already rolled out a free version of Grok in specific regions. TechCrunch has confirmed that free users in New Zealand can now participate in the Grok test program.
X platform researcher Swak revealed that the free version of Grok currently has usage limits: users can engage in 10 conversations per 2 hours using the Grok-2 model, and 20 conversations per 2 hours using the Grok-2mini model, with image analysis capabilities limited to 3 times per day. To use the free version of Grok, user accounts need to meet two conditions: registration for more than 7 days and a bound phone number.
In August this year, xAI launched the Grok-2 version with image generation capabilities, which uses the FLUX.1 model from Black Forest Labs. Last month, the company added image understanding capabilities to Grok. These features were previously only available to Premium and Premium+ members.
Analysts believe that opening Grok services to free users indicates that xAI is seeking to expand its user base and accelerate the product feedback cycle. This strategic move aims to enhance its competitive edge against rivals like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. The expansion of service coverage may bring new competitive dynamics to the AI chat assistant market.
