What You Can Do with xAI's Grok
Grok is the conversational AI service developed by xAI. It handles a wide range of tasks from writing and research to image generation, but its biggest feature is the ability to reference real-time posts on X (formerly Twitter).
Many AIs such as ChatGPT and Claude do not directly know about events after the cutoff of the data used for training. Grok, by contrast, is reported to more readily produce answers informed by the latest topics posted to X. It shows its strength when you want to quickly grasp unfolding events or public reactions.
Where You Can Use Grok
Grok can be used directly within the X app, as well as from the dedicated grok.com site and the API. You can use it naturally in the flow of browsing X, asking it to dig deeper into a post that caught your eye.
The Difference Between Grok 4.3 and Grok 4.20
Grok's models are updated continuously. As of June 2026, the mainstay is Grok 4.3, and Grok 4.20 with an even larger context has also appeared.
Grok 4.3 was released in April 2026 and supports a context window of up to 1 million tokens. A context window is the amount of text it can handle at once, and the larger it is, the easier it becomes to feed in long materials together. Grok 4.3 is reported to include DeepSearch for in-depth research, a Think mode for careful reasoning, Grok Imagine for image generation, and the ability to generate PDF and PowerPoint files directly.
Grok 4.20 is a flagship Beta that is reported to expand the context window up to 2 million tokens. It suits cases where you want to handle very long documents in one pass.
| Grok 4.3 | The mainstay model released in April 2026. Up to 1 million tokens. Supports DeepSearch, Think mode, Grok Imagine, and PDF/PowerPoint generation. |
|---|---|
| Grok 4.20 | A flagship Beta. Expands the context up to 2 million tokens. |
| Retired models | Grok 3, the initial Grok 4, Grok 4 Fast, and Grok 4.1 Fast retired on May 15, 2026. Old slugs are billed at Grok 4.3 standard pricing. |
Grok Pricing and Usage
You can start using Grok from the X app or the dedicated site. There is a range you can try for free and paid plans that unlock more capable models and features. For people who use X regularly, there is the convenience of getting started right within a familiar screen.
Pricing and the contents of the free tier can be revised. Before subscribing, always confirm the latest plans and availability in sources such as the xAI official news.
Using Grok's X Integration and DeepSearch
To make the most of Grok's character, the combination of X integration and DeepSearch is central. Digging into a trending event with DeepSearch and having it organize the reactions on X is a method well suited to research where recency matters.
Where Grok Fits in Business
Grok suits uses that draw on its strength of referencing real-time X (formerly Twitter). Even without specialist knowledge, it helps in situations like these.
- Check the latest market and competitor topics, informed by posts on X
- Grasp social media reactions to your company or its products
- Do preliminary research for plans and campaigns based on trends
- Summarize the key points of long materials and articles
- Generate first drafts of PDF and PowerPoint files directly
The more recency a research task demands, the more Grok's character pays off. For careful, in-depth analysis, it is also practical to use it alongside other AIs.
Tips for Using Grok with Long Documents
When you have Grok read long materials for summaries or research, preparing the material in Markdown format beforehand improves accuracy. This is because heading hierarchy and table structure are preserved, making it easier for the AI to read the content correctly.
Pasting a web page as-is can mix in styling and layout information that gets in the way of reading. Converting the source to Markdown before handing it over is a shortcut to stable results.
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How to Get Started with Grok and the Basics of Using It
You can start Grok with an X account. If you already use X, you can call it up right from a menu in the app, so there is little extra signup hassle. You can also use it from the dedicated grok.com site.
- Open Grok in the X app or on the dedicated site
- Type a question or instruction into the input box
- Add follow-up requests to the reply to shape it into the form you want
The trick is not to aim for perfection in one shot but to get closer through back-and-forth. Adding conditions like "for whom" and "in what format" tends to return answers closer to your intent. When you want to look up the latest topics, asking with the point in time in mind makes it easier to gauge how fresh the answer is.
Cautions When Using Grok
Convenient as it is, AI can answer with content that sounds plausible but differs from the facts. Because posts on X can include unverified information, do not take answers at face value for content that needs accuracy, such as figures and proper nouns, and verify against primary sources.
Also, when entering confidential or personal information directly, we recommend checking your workplace's rules. For important decisions, it is a safer approach to treat the AI's answer as a draft and have a person make the final call.
If cost is a concern, we recommend starting within the free range first. Once needs arise, such as using it in daily work, handling long materials at once, or wanting a more capable model, you can then consider a paid plan that fits your usage without waste. Grok in particular is strong for research that follows the latest topics, while careful analysis and routine work may suit other AIs better in some cases. Using several AIs by purpose lets you draw out the strengths of each. For example, dividing by role, with Grok for time-sensitive research and another AI for organizing long text, reduces hesitation.
Official Sources on Grok and xAI
This article is based on the following primary source (official news). Model specifications and pricing can change, so always check the official source for the latest, accurate information.