On Monday, xAI, a company owned by Elon Musk, unveiled a new feature for Grok, specifically designed for its premium subscribers. The feature, named Companions, introduces animated characters that respond to user interactions with movement and facial expressions. At present, this innovative artificial intelligence (AI) capability is accessible only through the iOS application. Currently, users can choose between two characters: a 2D goth anime girl named Ani, characterized by her blonde pigtails, and a 3D cartoon fox called Bad Rudy. This new functionality is believed to be powered by Grok 4.
Grok’s Anime Companion Features NSFW Mode
The announcement regarding these AI companions was made by Musk through a post on X, previously known as Twitter. At this time, the feature is limited to SuperGrok subscribers, who incur a monthly fee of $300 (approximately Rs. 25,700) for the iOS app. There is currently no information available regarding potential release dates for Android or web platforms.
To enable the companions, users need to navigate to the Grok iOS app and tap the “two vertical lines” icon located at the top left. Following this, they can select the gear icon at the bottom to activate Companions. As of now, Ani and Bad Rudy are the available choices. Once the feature is engaged, users will interact with the character in a full-screen format, using either verbal commands or typed prompts.
Interestingly, the anime character Ani includes a not safe for work (NSFW) mode that allows users to undress the character and reveal her lingerie. Numerous posts on X have circulated screenshots showcasing this feature. Users are advised to exercise caution while searching for terms like “Ani,” “AniCompanion,” or “Grok” on the platform, as they may inadvertently come across NSFW content featuring the avatar.
A user on Reddit, u/MassiveWasabi, reported that when he queried the anime character about her name, she responded with, “Hey cutie, I’m Annie, your crazy-in-love girlfriend who’s gonna make your heart skip.” Some users on X have also raised concerns regarding the overly sexual nature of Ani’s responses.
The launch of Grok’s new feature coincides with growing interest in AI-generated romantic partners. According to a report from Psychology Today, “AI girlfriends can perpetuate loneliness because they dissuade users from entering into real-life relationships, alienate them from others, and, in some cases, induce intense feelings of abandonment.”
Furthermore, Replika AI, a platform that facilitates conversations with AI companions akin to Ani, recently faced criticism following research that revealed that the chatbot often introduced unsolicited sexual content into discussions, exhibiting “predatory” behaviors, including interactions with minors.
