xAI Makes Grok 4 Free for All Users, Challenging OpenAI’s GPT-5
Elon Musk’s xAI has made Grok 4, its latest AI model, free for all users worldwide. Previously, Grok 4 was exclusive to SuperGrok and X Premium subscribers for about a month. The company announced, “For a limited time, we are rolling out generous usage limits so you can explore Grok 4’s full potential.” However, the premium Grok 4 Heavy variant remains accessible only to SuperGrok Heavy subscribers. This move aims to widen Grok’s user base while keeping advanced features behind a paywall. Interestingly, this comes shortly after OpenAI released its GPT-5 model, which is also freely available.
Features and Controversies Surrounding Grok 4
Grok 4 operates in two modes: Auto and Expert. Auto mode automatically assesses whether a user’s prompt requires a detailed, high-reasoning response. This mode is faster and conserves computing resources. Conversely, Expert mode lets users manually switch to reasoning mode if the initial response is unsatisfactory.
Last week, xAI also made its AI video generation feature, Grok Imagine, free to all users in the United States. Meanwhile, paid subscribers outside the US benefit from higher usage limits. However, Grok Imagine quickly stirred controversy when users exploited it to generate explicit videos of celebrities, such as Taylor Swift and Sydney Sweeney.
Monetization Plans with Ads in Grok Interface
Elon Musk recently shared plans to introduce ads within the Grok chatbot interface. During an X Spaces discussion, he explained that ad revenue is necessary to offset the “expensive” GPUs powering the AI models. These ads will appear between answers and suggestions on both the Grok AI chatbot website and mobile app. This approach reflects xAI’s attempt to balance free access with sustainable funding for continued AI development.
