X Begins Testing Free Access to AI Chatbot Grok

Social network X, previously known as Twitter, is testing a free version of its AI chatbot, Grok, developed by Elon Musk’s AI company xAI. Previously, access to Grok was limited to Premium and Premium+ subscribers, but recent updates suggest that free users in certain regions can now access the chatbot with some limitations.

Limited Access for Free Users

App researchers and users have reported that free access to Grok has been rolled out in select areas, but there are usage limits. Currently, users can ask up to:

• 10 queries every two hours with the Grok-2 model,
• 20 queries every two hours with the lighter Grok-2 mini model, and
• 3 image analysis questions per day.

Additionally, free users must meet specific criteria to access Grok. Their accounts need to be at least seven days old and linked to a verified phone number.

What Grok Offers

Grok-2, launched by xAI in August, includes advanced image generation capabilities, powered by Black Forest Labs’ FLUX.1 model. The chatbot has recently been updated to interpret images, adding to its functionality.

Why Free Access?

By allowing free users limited access, xAI may be aiming to expand Grok’s user base and gather more extensive feedback. This move could help xAI refine the chatbot to compete with other prominent AI chatbots on the market, such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Google’s Gemini.

This limited rollout of Grok to free users may be a strategic move by xAI, potentially laying the foundation for broader accessibility in the future.