In August, Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence venture, known as xAI, announced its intention to release an application programming interface (API) for Grok, its leading generative AI model that powers various functionalities on the platform X. The long-awaited API has now been launched, though it currently offers a rather basic set of features.
The xAI API currently provides access to a single model named “grok-beta,” which is available at a cost of $5 for every million input tokens (approximately 750,000 words) or $15 for every million output tokens. Tokens represent small segments of data, similar to how the syllables “fan,” “tas,” and “tic” make up the word “fantastic.”
There is some ambiguity surrounding the exact version of the Grok model that “grok-beta” corresponds to. The most recent model on X is Grok 2. The API’s documentation mentions both Grok 2 and Grok mini, which is a scaled-down and more cost-effective variant of Grok. This has led to speculation that there may be a technical issue at play. Additionally, there have been reports from users on X experiencing difficulties when attempting to purchase usage credits for the service.
The xAI API is designed to support function calls, enabling the integration of Grok models with external resources such as databases and search engines. The API documentation also alludes to forthcoming vision models that will have the capability to process and analyze both text and images, although these features are not yet operational.
Elon Musk established xAI the previous year. Shortly thereafter, the company, which has taken over the former premises of OpenAI, introduced its initial Grok model on the X platform, exclusively for X Premium+ subscribers who pay a monthly fee of $16.
Grok is known for its unconventional behavior, as Musk has described it, displaying a tendency to respond to provocative inquiries that most other AI systems would typically avoid. For instance, when prompted to use vulgar language, Grok will comply, producing expletives and expressive terms that one would not encounter with AI models like ChatGPT.
Grok’s role within the X ecosystem is expanding. Through a partnership with the open-source image generator Flux, Grok is capable of creating images on X, a feature that has sparked controversy due to the absence of content restrictions. It also provides summaries of news and trending topics, although these are sometimes inaccurate, and it is expected to enhance various aspects of X, including search functionality, user bios, post analytics, and commenting features in the future.
xAI is rapidly advancing to compete with leading generative AI companies such as OpenAI and Anthropic. In May, xAI secured $6 billion in a funding round with contributions from notable investors like Andreessen Horowitz, Sequoia Capital, and Fidelity.
Musk frequently claims that the data from X provides xAI with a significant advantage over its competitors. Recently, X amended its privacy policy to permit third parties, including xAI, to use X posts for model training purposes.
In the pitch for xAI’s funding, the startup also shared a vision of training its models using data from Musk’s array of enterprises, such as Tesla, SpaceX, and The Boring Company. The aim is for these models to then contribute to technological advancements across these firms.
However, not everyone is supportive of this strategy. Some Tesla shareholders have filed lawsuits against Musk, arguing that he has redirected both talent and resources from Tesla to xAI, which they view as a rival enterprise.
Musk has stated that xAI is currently working on developing the next iteration of Grok models at its data center in Memphis. This facility has faced criticism for contributing to air pollution through the use of unauthorized turbines. The company is planning to upgrade the data center next year, but this will require approval from the Tennessee Valley Authority.
