Competition for ChatGPT: the Grok application arrives on iPhone
Just a month ago, we reported that Grok 2 AI was available free to all users of X (ex-Twitter). A decision which made it possible to make Elon Musk's chatbot more accessible than when it was reserved only for paying subscribers of ahead of Grok in terms of accessibility. The latter is today making up part of the gap by unveiling a brand new iOS app for iPhones in the United States.
Finally a dedicated app
After a test phase in December 2024, this version uses Grok-2, an improved model promising execution speed three times faster than the previous one, better precision and multilingual capabilities. The app also includes a widget on the lock screen for quick access to chatbot features. The service also offers image generation and photo analysis with some restrictions. A few hours after its launch, the app had already climbed to second position in the Productivity category on the US App Store.
Grok, the gangsta AI. © DIA TV
A versatile service
This democratization is accompanied by multiplatform expansion with the development of a dedicated website accessible via Grok.com. The application is presented as a versatile assistant, designed according to xAI to be “as truthful, useful and curious as possible”. It allows users to get answers to their questions, generate images and analyze photos for a better understanding of their surroundings. In short, the Grok application does not seem to innovate too much in terms of functionalities and follows in the footsteps of ChatGPT. xAI has not communicated a date for either the launch in Europe or the arrival of an Android version.
The grok.com website is available in beta, but only for the United States or users with a VPN. © Les Numériques
A still favorable context
You might think that Grok is just another free chatbot, which will have difficulty finding its place among ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Perplexity, Mistral AI and even DeepSeek. But the fact that Elon Musk is in charge implies that Grok will benefit from media overexposure and, mechanically, from greater public attention. The development of Grok thus benefits from significant financial support, with a fundraising of 6 billion dollars announced on December 23 and a valuation of xAI at more than 40 billion dollars, almost as much as what the company spent. even Musk to acquire Twitter in 2022. These resources should allow xAI to continue the development of its artificial intelligence and quickly compete with established players in the market.
