xAI, the artificial intelligence startup founded by Elon Musk, is reportedly testing a standalone app for its generative AI chatbot, Grok, exclusively for Apple’s iOS platform. Currently, the app is in beta and available in select countries. This move marks an effort to untether Grok from the X platform, offering users a more direct way to access its advanced AI capabilities.
Last month, X introduced a free version of the AI chatbot in limited regions, and earlier this month, it was made available for everyone. Now, xAI seems to be taking the next step by testing a dedicated app for Grok, further expanding its reach. Alongside the app, a dedicated website for the chatbot has also been unveiled, displaying a “coming soon” message, signalling potential web-based access shortly.
Grok’s AI Features
The Grok chatbot boasts a range of generative AI features, recently enhanced with the addition of image generation capabilities. Using an autoregressive image model, Grok can predict token inputs based on text and image data. Moreover, it can generate images using existing inputs, enabling creative outputs tailored to user requirements.
Free Access with Limitations
While the standalone app is still in beta, users can try out Grok’s free version, albeit with some restrictions. The current version allows users to:
● Ask 10 questions every 2 hours
● Analyze up to three images per day
A Competitive Leap
According to the Wall Street Journal, creating a standalone app aligns with X’s vision to decouple Grok from the main platform, likely aiming to compete with standalone AI assistants like OpenAI’s ChatGPT. This move could help xAI build its presence in the AI space while attracting a broader audience through dedicated tools like the iOS app.
Stay tuned for further updates as xAI’s Grok continues to evolve. Users can now explore the beta version on iOS or the free version on the X app.
