Elon Musk's xAI Unveils Grok 3 Model to Compete with ChatGPT
New York, Tuesday, 18 February 2025.
Elon Musk’s xAI has launched the Grok 3 AI model, claiming superior performance over rivals like ChatGPT, with enhanced capabilities for applications on iOS and web platforms.
Launch Details and Key Features
xAI officially released Grok 3 on February 17, 2025 [1][2], marking a significant advancement in AI technology. The model, developed using approximately 200,000 GPUs in a Memphis data center, boasts ‘10x’ more computing power than its predecessor, Grok 2 [1]. The release includes multiple variants, including Grok 3 mini for faster responses and specialized Grok 3 Reasoning models designed to ‘think through’ complex problems [1][3].
Performance Claims and Benchmarks
According to xAI, Grok 3 outperforms several leading AI models, including OpenAI’s GPT-4o, Google’s Gemini, and DeepSeek’s V3, particularly in mathematics, science, and coding benchmarks [3][5]. The model features a new ‘Deep Search’ capability, which acts as a ‘next generation search engine’ [3], promising to reduce research time from an hour to approximately 10 minutes [2]. However, some limitations have been noted, particularly in creative tasks such as Unicode puzzles and SVG generation [2].
Accessibility and Future Plans
Grok 3 is being rolled out to X’s Premium+ subscribers, with a new subscription tier called SuperGrok priced at $30 per month or $300 annually offering additional features [1]. xAI has announced plans to introduce voice mode capabilities by February 24, 2025, followed by enterprise API access in the subsequent weeks [1]. The company, reportedly valued at $75 billion [2], is currently seeking $10 billion in additional funding while competing in an increasingly crowded AI market [5].
Market Impact and Competition
This launch comes at a significant time in the AI industry, particularly following Musk’s recent unsuccessful $97.4 billion bid to acquire OpenAI’s non-profit arm [2][5]. The release of Grok 3 represents xAI’s ambitious push to establish itself as a leading player in the AI sector, with Musk claiming it to be ‘the smartest AI on Earth’ [2]. The company’s rapid development pace and substantial computing infrastructure investments signal its commitment to competing with established players like OpenAI and emerging competitors such as China’s DeepSeek [3][5].