What is a Grok?

It's no secret that Elon Musk wants to make X (previously Twitter) into a super app, and Grok represents a significant step in that regard. According to xAI, "Grok is an AI designed to answer practically any question and, much harder, even suggest what question to ask! It is modelled after the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy."

In essence, Grok is an AI chatbot that resembles Google Bard and ChatGPT. It may produce unique text formats like scripts, poems, code, and letters in addition to providing answers to inquiries. Even the "spicy" ones that its competitors usually steer clear of, it has been built to respond to customer inquiries.

What is the meaning of  'Grok'?

Even though at first it can look like gibberish, we can't ignore it for what it is. The definition of the word, according to the Cambridge Dictionary, is "to understand something."

According to a fast online search, American author Robert A. Heinlein created the term for his science fiction book Stranger in a Strange Land. It is a Martian word that means "to drink" in the context of the book. The phrase "understand something or someone completely-to merge, blend, and lose identity in a group experience" is now included in its definition, though.

Therefore, it should come as no surprise that Musk, a sci-fi enthusiast and Mars enthusiast, chose the name of xAI's chatbot in the hopes that it would learn as much as possible from its conversations.

What distinguishes Grok from other AIs?

Musk wrote on X, "In some important respects, it is the best that currently exists," in reference to Grok. According to the initial glances that Grok users have provided, the new AI is built with humor in mind while responding.

It also likes and is founded on irony. Grok has a unique personality that sets him apart from the other AI chatbots thanks to his clever touch. However, how does it compare to Google Bard and ChatGPT?

ChatGPT vs. Grok

Grok's access to real-time information is one of its main advantages over ChatGPT's free edition. Not only does the standard ChatGPT know nothing about Grok, it is also blissfully ignorant of Musk's acquisition of Twitter/X, given that it only keeps track of information through January 2022. 

All the information we have about Elon Musk's xAI chatbot, Grok or not
On X, Elon Musk published a comparison of ChatGPT and Grok. But as several users quickly noted in their responses, GPT4 with Bing and ChatGPT Plus both have access to real-time data and can accurately respond to inquiries.

Google Bard vs. Grok

Grok from xAI and Google Bard can both access real-time data. However, Bard's access to Google's extensive knowledge base puts it in a favorable position. Conversely, Grok can access real-time data via the social media platform X.

This is what we got when we asked Bard to draw comparisons between itself and Grok:

How to apply Grok

The US version of the Grok prototype is currently only available to a limited number of users. Musk has stated that all X Premium+ subscribers will soon have access to it, though, at a monthly cost of $25.77 through the smartphone app and $15.58 via the web.

It will be interesting to watch how Grok changes over the coming months and whether or not it poses a real threat to Google Bard and ChatGPT. In addition to being a substitute for these chatbots, Gork will be a helpful generative AI tool in X.

All the information we have about Elon Musk's xAI chatbot, Grok or not