Elon Musk's xAI has launched Grok 3, its highly anticipated AI chatbot, on February 18, 2025, marking its entry as a formidable competitor against established names like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and DeepSeek. Musk described the newly unveiled Grok 3 as potentially the "smartest AI on Earth," ready to astonish users with its advanced reasoning capabilities.
The live demonstration of Grok 3 was set to begin at 9:30 AM IST, and Musk had kept everyone on their toes with prior statements hinting at imminent public availability. Now accessible to Premium+ subscribers on X, this new model contrasts sharply against its predecessor, Grok 2, boasting claims of being ten times more capable.
Musk's ambitious goals for Grok 3 have been underscored by exciting developments leading up to this launch. Constructed using xAI’s state-of-the-art Colossus supercomputer, Grok 3 utilized over 100,000 Nvidia GPU hours for extensive training via reinforcement learning techniques, aiming to diminish inaccuracies commonly referred to as “hallucinations.” Musk reflected on this ambitious project at the World Governments Summit saying, “This might be the last time an AI isbetter than Grok.” This dedication to refinement and accuracy could set Grok 3 apart in the increasingly competitive AI market.
The competition is intensified by the emergence of Chinese startup DeepSeek, whose recently launched R1 model has stunned the industry by matching or exceeding leading chatbots on performance metrics. Musk addressed this challenge, pointing out how Grok 3 targets the issues faced by users who have expressed dissatisfaction with existing AI technologies.
"We are very excited to present Grok3, which is, we think, an order of magnitude more capable than Grok2, in very short time," Musk stated, celebrating the achievements of his team. The model aims to engage users through enhanced features enabling complex problem solving, including scientific inquiries, coding, and games—all part of what he envisions as Grok 3's creative capabilities.
During the demonstration, Grok 3 was put to the test with various benchmarks, outperforming its main rivals, including Gemini 2 Pro and other existing chatbots across different fields. The demonstration captivated nearly 100,000 virtual attendees, all eager to glimpse the innovations brought forth by Musk and his team at xAI.
So what’s next for Grok 3? Users can experience this advanced AI firsthand by signing up for Premium+ access on X. For those enthusiastic fans seeking even more features, xAI has introduced the Super Grok subscription. This new tier grants early access to Grok 3’s advanced capabilities.
Musk emphasized the innovative approach behind Grok by explaining the meaning behind its name derived from Robert Heinlein's novel Stranger in a Strange Land. He elaborated, "The term Grok...means to fully and deeply understand something." This goal of supreme comprehension drives Musk's vision for Grok 3.
For Musk, launching Grok 3 isn’t merely about releasing another chatbot. It's about reshaping how AI interacts with society. With potential funding of $10 billion around the corner, xAI's valuation is poised to reach $75 billion; Musk’s xAI threatens to stir the waters of the AI revolution.
The Grok 3 launch signifies not just another product release but also marks the beginning of what Musk describes as his mission to push the limits of AI's potential. Positioned as both creator and challenger, Musk's foray with xAI brings fresh dynamics to conversations about the future of artificial intelligence.