Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company, xAI, has finally launched its latest AI model, Grok 3, along with new updates for the Grok app on iOS and the web.
This latest iteration brings significant advancements, aiming to rival AI models like OpenAI’s GPT-4o and Google’s Gemini.
Grok 3, which has been in development for several months, was initially expected to debut in 2024 but experienced delays. Now that it’s finally here, xAI is making bold claims about its improved performance and new features.
A Powerful AI Built with Massive Computing Power
To develop Grok 3, xAI utilized a massive data center in Memphis equipped with approximately 200,000 GPUs. According to Musk, this model was trained using ten times more computing power than its predecessor, Grok 2.
The training dataset reportedly includes a variety of sources, including legal case filings.
Musk described Grok 3 as a “maximally truth-seeking AI,” emphasizing its ability to provide factual answers, even when those answers may not align with politically correct viewpoints.
Grok 3: A Family of Models with Special Features
Grok 3 isn’t just one model. It’s a family of AI models with different functionalities. A smaller version, Grok 3 Mini, offers faster response times, though at the cost of some accuracy. While not all versions are available yet, some began rolling out this week, with others in beta testing.
How Grok 3 Compares to GPT-4o and Other AI Models
According to xAI, Grok 3 outperforms GPT-4o on multiple AI benchmarks, including AIME (a math problem-solving evaluation) and GPQA (which tests knowledge in physics, biology, and chemistry).
Additionally, early testing suggests that Grok 3 has performed well in the Chatbot Arena, where AI models are judged through head-to-head comparisons by real users.
A specialized subset of the Grok 3 family, known as Grok 3 Reasoning and Grok 3 Mini Reasoning, is designed for complex problem-solving. These models incorporate a process similar to OpenAI’s o3-mini and DeepSeek’s R1, where the AI “thinks through” its responses before providing an answer. This approach helps reduce errors and misinformation.
New Features: DeepSearch and Advanced Reasoning
The Grok app now includes a feature called DeepSearch, designed to function as an AI-powered research tool. This feature scans the internet and Musk’s social network, X, to deliver concise summaries based on user queries.
DeepSearch aims to compete with OpenAI’s research tools, offering a powerful way to extract relevant information quickly.
For those tackling complex questions, xAI has introduced a “Big Brain” mode within the app. This feature utilizes additional computational resources to enhance reasoning capabilities, making it particularly useful for mathematics, science, and programming queries.
Subscription Plans and Pricing
Access to Grok 3 will be available first to users subscribed to X’s Premium+ tier, which costs $50 per month. Additionally, xAI is rolling out a new premium plan, SuperGrok, priced at $30 per month or $300 annually.
This plan unlocks additional reasoning queries, expanded DeepSearch capabilities, and unlimited AI-generated images.
What’s Next for Grok?
Musk has hinted that a voice feature will soon be added to the Grok app, allowing the AI to interact using a synthesized voice.
This update is expected within a week. Furthermore, xAI plans to make Grok 3 models available via an enterprise API in the coming weeks, bringing these advanced capabilities to businesses and developers.
Looking ahead, xAI also plans to open-source Grok 2 once Grok 3 becomes fully stable. According to Musk, this aligns with the company’s approach of releasing previous versions for public use once the latest iteration is fully functional.
A Shift Towards Political Neutrality?
Since its inception, Grok has positioned itself as an AI model willing to answer controversial questions that other AI systems might avoid.
However, previous versions of Grok reportedly leaned towards left-leaning political perspectives, particularly on topics like diversity, inequality, and social issues. Musk has blamed this on the training data used and has vowed to steer Grok towards a more politically neutral stance.
Whether xAI has successfully achieved this remains to be seen, but it’s clear that Grok 3 is making waves in the AI space. With enhanced computing power, new reasoning features, and a growing suite of applications, xAI is positioning itself as a serious contender in the AI industry.
