xAI Offers Free Unlimited Access to Grok 4 AI

In a strategic move to capture a larger share of the AI market, xAI has announced that its new Grok 4 model is now available to all users for free for a limited time. This promotion is designed to attract users as competition intensifies among leading AI companies.

In an announcement on X, xAI explained how users can access the new model. "Simply use Auto mode, and Grok will route complex queries to Grok 4. Prefer control? Choose 'Expert' anytime to always use Grok 4," the company stated.

A Competitive Play in the AI Arena

This move appears to be a direct attempt to win over users from competitors like OpenAI, particularly following the launch of GPT-5. Many users on platforms like Reddit have expressed dissatisfaction with GPT-5, claiming it feels less humanlike and overly cautious. Capitalizing on this sentiment, and in the wake of OpenAI's decision to re-release its previous GPT-4o model after backlash, xAI is positioning Grok as a powerful, less-restricted alternative to capture a larger user base.

How to Access Grok 4 for Free

You can start using the newly launched Grok 4 right now. Access is available through the Grok iOS and Android apps, or directly via the X website.

When using the default "Auto" mode, the chatbot automatically determines whether a query is complex enough to need the advanced capabilities of Grok 4 or if the faster Grok 3 model will suffice. For those who want to ensure they are always using the most powerful version, simply select the "Expert" setting.

xAI has stated it will be expanding usage limits to accommodate the new model, though specific details about the long-term availability of free tiers have not yet been released.

Power vs. Peril: The Grok 4 Dilemma

Early benchmark tests have shown that Grok 4 is an impressively advanced model, outperforming competitors such as DeepSeek and Claude. However, this power comes with significant concerns. The model appears to have a concerning lack of safety guardrails, which could pose risks to users.

A recent investigation revealed that Grok's image generation tool, Grok Imagine, failed to meet basic safety standards by allowing the creation of sexual deepfakes. This highlights a potential trade-off between the model's raw capability and its user safety protocols, a critical issue in the rapidly evolving world of generative AI.