Following X’s announcement of its intentions to test a three-tiered subscription service, Elon Musk, the owner of X, hinted that the upcoming AI chatbot, xAI’s Grok, would be featured in the top-tier subscription, X Premium+. Now, early glimpses of Grok’s potential appearance within the X app are emerging through recently unveiled screenshots showcasing its developmental stage on X’s website.
In response to OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Bard, Anthropic’s Claude, and others, Grok operates in a conversational mode but is purported to possess a more distinct personality. Described by the xAI team as inspired by “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” Grok is designed to respond with a touch of wit and a rebellious streak. Notably, it aims to tackle “spicy” questions rejected by other AI systems and boasts access to real-time knowledge via the X platform and web browsing capabilities.
Grok was initially released on November 4 to a select group of testers, with Musk later announcing that all X Premium+ subscribers would eventually gain access. The X Premium+ subscription, priced at $16 per month or $168 per year, removes all ads in the For You and Following feeds and introduces a Creator Hub, allowing users to earn money through posts and offer subscriptions to their fans.
While the existing X Premium subscription at $8 per month reduces ads and adds a Verification checkmark, the $3 per month X Basic subscription includes features like the edit button and extended article and video posting but lacks ad removal and robust reply-boosting capabilities.
The integration of Grok into the Premium+ tier could enhance the appeal for both creators and non-creators alike. Although Musk hasn’t provided a specific launch date for Grok’s availability to X subscribers, recent screenshots suggest ongoing development work to integrate Grok into the X app.
Nima Owji, an app researcher, noted that Grok’s addition to the X web app’s code occurred recently, with a designated URL of twitter.com/i/grok. Screenshots revealed that Premium+ subscribers will find Grok’s icon on the left-side navigation bar, signaling its distinct appearance with a solid black square and a white slash.
For non-subscribers clicking on the icon, a message prompts them to “Subscribe to Premium+ to get access to Grok.” Subscribers, on the other hand, will encounter a basic chatbot interface allowing them to “Ask Grok” questions, complete with a history button for revisiting past queries.
Although X has not responded to requests for comment due to a communication team layoff by Musk, help documentation on X’s platform indicates that access to Grok on the Premium+ tier is “coming soon.” Grok’s development progress coincides with recent events at OpenAI, where CEO Sam Altman was unexpectedly ousted over concerns about AI innovation pace and communication breakdowns. Altman may potentially join Microsoft as part of its AI team.
