In a significant development within the artificial intelligence landscape, Elon Musk’s xAI has officially launched the Grok API, allowing external access to its flagship generative AI model. Announced in August, the API is now live, albeit in its early stages with limited features. Currently, the only model available is termed “grok-beta,” attracting attention with its pricing structure set at $5 per million input tokens, translating to approximately 750,000 words, and $15 per million output tokens. Tokens represent units of data, and this pricing positions Grok as a competitively priced alternative in the saturated AI market.
The specifics surrounding the model referred to as “grok-beta” remain unclear, raising questions about which version of the Grok model it corresponds with, particularly as the latest iteration, Grok 2, operates on the social media platform X. There are indications within the API documentation referencing Grok 2 alongside Grok mini, a more economical variant. However, this has left some users puzzled regarding the technicalities of Grok’s current offering.
Moreover, early adopters have voiced frustrations about payment issues while trying to acquire usage credits, pointing to potential hurdles as xAI rolls out its new API. Another feature of interest is the API’s capability for function calling, allowing Grok models to interact with external tools such as databases and search engines. The documentation also hints at impending vision models designed to analyze both textual and visual data, although these functionalities have yet to be operational.
Founded by Musk in 2023, xAI has already made significant strides, notably moving into the former headquarters of OpenAI. Its initial Grok model debuted on X for Premium+ subscribers, who pay $16 a month, suggesting a strategic move to integrate its technology deeply within the X ecosystem. Grok’s distinctive characteristic includes what Musk describes as