As the calendar turns to 2025, it’s evident that establishing an AI chatbot has become a necessity for every tech organization. X.com has joined the trend, having debuted a chatbot for its Premium members back in late 2023, crafted by its sibling enterprise, xAI. While users boasting blue check marks may benefit from this integrated AI feature, many others curious about AI developments might seek alternatives, whether complimentary or paid, such as ChatGPT or Gemini.

This dynamic might shift this year; in December, xAI revealed a complimentary version of Grok, specifically the latest Grok-2 model, accessible to anyone possessing an X account. Currently, users can explore Grok by selecting its tab on the X platform, albeit this convenience has not extended to those who have transitioned to other platforms. This changes now.

Grok Now Accessible on iOS Without X Account

Starting this week, Grok has rolled out as a complimentary application on iOS—without any prerequisites. No X account is required for using Grok, nor must users sign into any account. (However, users do have the option to connect their X account or sign in using Apple, Google, or email.) After downloading the app, inquiries can be directed at Grok just as with any other AI chatbot. Those not logged into an X Premium account might find the app operates under similar constraints to the free plan, allowing for 10 requests every two hours, inclusive of three image analysis requests and four image generations per day.

The key question arises: Will users gravitate towards Grok? Early signs are promising. As this is written, the app ranks fourth among free applications on the iOS App Store—one position below ChatGPT and significantly ahead of Gemini at spot 49. (For reference, X sits at number 31.) However, concerns about its longevity linger. Although enthusiasts of X and Elon Musk will likely embrace Grok, it seems probable that most individuals engaged with AI will prefer well-established options like ChatGPT unless Grok offers a distinctly better experience.

Yet, there’s no denying Grok’s impressive speed: initial tests demonstrate that it responds rapidly to text inputs. Nonetheless, extended evaluations are necessary to determine the accuracy of its outputs, especially given some skepticism surrounding AI functionalities. An area where Grok may stand out—though not necessarily positively—lies in its minimal filtering. Being an X Corp product, Grok appears to lack the safeguards other services employ to curb misuse. This offers a unique capacity for creative freedom in image generation.

During testing by DailyHackly’s tech editor Michelle Ehrhardt, who interacted with the Grok-2 beta back in August, she was surprised by the nature of some generated images—ranging from bizarre to offensive. Additionally, during a brief evaluation, it was possible to coax Grok into creating content that infringed on copyrights without any need for subterfuge. Contrasted with Google’s Imagen 3, where circumventing filters required strategic prompts, Grok delivers on straightforward requests. Asking it to depict Mario yields less convoluted results compared to similar attempts on other platforms.

Originally intended to battle the Goomba, Mario’s appearance in Grok took an unexpected turn.
Credit: Jake Peterson