Elon Musk’s AI startup, xAI, introduced its latest artificial intelligence model, Grok 3, on Monday, aiming to rival top models like OpenAI’s GPT-4o and DeepSeek’s V3. During a livestreamed event on X, xAI executives claimed that Grok 3 surpasses competitors in math, science, and coding benchmarks, though its performance against models like OpenAI’s o3-mini and DeepSeek R1 remains unclear.
Grok 3 brings several new features, including “deep search” for advanced web browsing, an online game coding tool, and a “big brain” mode designed for complex reasoning. The model is currently available to Premium+ subscribers on X ($40 per month) and those who sign up through Grok’s standalone app or website.
As AI competition intensifies, major tech companies are investing in larger data centers to power increasingly sophisticated models. Musk revealed that Grok 3 was developed using ten times the computing power of its predecessor, Grok 2, following the launch of xAI’s Tennessee data center last year.
Musk described the release as a “beta” phase, acknowledging that initial imperfections will be refined quickly. He also teased an upcoming “voice mode”, similar to ChatGPT’s conversational feature, set to roll out soon.
Meanwhile, Musk continues to expand his influence in AI. Last week, he led a $97 billion buyout offer for OpenAI, which its board rejected. He has criticized OpenAI’s shift away from its non-profit roots and called for more open-source AI development. When asked if xAI would open-source Grok, Musk stated that Grok 2’s code would be released once Grok 3 is fully stable in the coming months.
