xAI, the artificial intelligence company founded by Elon Musk, is reportedly set to launch a standalone app next month. Despite entering the AI market later than some competitors, xAI has rapidly developed its offerings. Over the past two months, the firm has introduced a function-calling capability for its large language models (LLMs), released an application programming interface (API) for developers, and is in the process of testing a free version of its AI model. According to recent reports, the company is gearing up to compete with OpenAI through a ChatGPT-like application.
xAI Set to Introduce Standalone App
The Wall Street Journal has reported that Musk intends to develop Grok AI as a standalone product. Sources close to the matter suggest that xAI is preparing to launch a chatbot app for Grok, which would rival offerings from ChatGPT.
At present, Grok AI is accessible only through X (formerly Twitter) and is limited to X Premium and Premium+ subscribers. A recent report indicated that xAI is also planning to roll out a free version of its AI model, potentially complementing the standalone app initiative.
The proposed app, along with the API for developers, signifies Musk’s strategy to open new revenue channels through its AI products. To attract developers, xAI has introduced incentives, including free tokens. The overarching aim appears to be to maximize the reach of Grok and enable other applications to leverage its technology.
The WSJ report indicates that Musk’s ambition is to position his offerings as a real alternative to OpenAI’s services, strolling into every domain where ChatGPT operates. Despite this vision, Grok currently lacks crucial features such as native image generation, voice support, and agentic AI functionalities—capabilities that established competitors like Google, OpenAI, Anthropic, and Microsoft already provide.
The rivalry between Musk and OpenAI has a history, with Musk having initiated a lawsuit against OpenAI earlier this year for allegedly breaching its commitment to remain a nonprofit entity. OpenAI has characterized the lawsuit as “baseless and overreaching.”
The report also emphasized two notable advantages xAI holds over other AI chatbots. Firstly, Grok has been trained exclusively on public posts from X, allowing it to engage in more natural conversations and access more current information than many other LLMs. Secondly, Musk is utilizing data generated by Tesla vehicles to enhance the training of xAI’s models.
However, the effectiveness of these advantages in attracting users and generating revenue will only become evident with time.
