In October 2024, Elon Musk's xAI launched the Grok API, featuring its generative AI model, 'grok-beta.' The API is priced at $5 per million input tokens and $15 per million output tokens, though it currently offers limited functionality.
Users have reported issues with purchasing usage credits, and the exact specifications of 'grok-beta' remain unclear, with documentation mentioning Grok 2 and a lighter version called Grok mini.
The API supports function calling, linking Grok to external tools, and hints at future vision models for text and image analysis.
Launched in 2023, Grok has integrated features on the X platform, including image generation and news summarization. Musk claims that X's vast data gives xAI an advantage over competitors like OpenAI and Anthropic.
In May, xAI raised $6 billion in funding, aiming to use data from Musk's various companies, including Tesla and SpaceX, to enhance its models. However, this plan has faced backlash from Tesla shareholders.
xAI is currently training new Grok models at its Memphis datacenter, which has faced environmental scrutiny. The company plans upgrades pending approval from the Tennessee Valley Authority.