Grok

What Grok does

Grok is xAI's assistant, available on its own site and apps and inside X. Its distinguishing feature is real-time access to public posts on X, which makes it useful for reading what is being said about a topic right now, tracking a developing story, or checking claims circulating on the platform. It also generates images and video, analyses documents and images, offers a research mode that compiles sourced reports, and provides an API for developers. A less restrictive content policy than most competitors is part of its positioning. It suits people who follow news and discussion on X closely and want it summarised and checked. The limitations follow directly: summaries inherit the bias and noise of the platform they draw on, the looser content policy produces output other assistants would decline, and the strongest features sit behind a subscription tied to X premium tiers.

How to use it

Use grok.com with an X or email account, or open it from within X where it is already signed in; a free tier with message limits lets you try it and paid access comes through X premium tiers or a direct subscription. The feature worth using it for is live search across posts: ask about a topic and request that it cite the posts it drew on, then read those sources rather than the summary, because the underlying material is often opinionated. Research mode takes longer and produces a structured report with references. Image generation sits in the same interface. Two things to account for: the assistant's default tone is more informal and more willing to speculate than its competitors, so ask explicitly for a neutral, sourced answer when that matters; and quoting live posts means quoting unverified claims, so treat anything it reports from the platform as a lead rather than a fact.

Best for

• tracking live discussion
• news monitoring
• social listening
• image generation
• quick fact checks

Strengths and limitations