Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company, xAI, has introduced Grok-3, its latest AI model designed with advanced reasoning capabilities. According to the company, Grok-3 has more than ten times the compute power of its predecessor and outperforms competing models such as OpenAI’s GPT-4o, Google’s Gemini, and DeepSeek’s V3 in early testing.
One of the key updates in Grok-3 is the introduction of enhanced reasoning, a feature aimed at improving the chatbot’s ability to handle complex queries. By breaking down tasks into smaller steps and self-evaluating its responses, the model aims to provide more accurate and reliable answers.
New Features: Big Brain Mode and Deep Search
The model introduces two distinct reasoning modes for different types of queries. The “Think” mode allows users to see Grok’s reasoning process as it formulates responses, while “Big Brain” mode is designed for more computationally demanding tasks that require deeper analysis.
Alongside these reasoning updates, xAI is launching a new AI-powered search engine called Deep Search. The company describes it as a next-generation approach to online search, potentially positioning Grok-3 as a competitor to traditional search engines such as Google.
Subscription Plans and Pricing Changes
Grok-3’s new reasoning capabilities will be available through the Grok app for subscribers to X Premium Plus, which now costs $40 per month following a recent price increase. This marks the second price adjustment in two months, up from $22 in December.
xAI is also introducing a new premium tier called SuperGrok, priced at $30 per month. This plan will offer early access to the most advanced AI features, though it remains unclear whether the cost is in addition to the X Premium Plus subscription.
Challenges and Future Developments
Despite its advancements, previous versions of Grok have faced criticism for spreading election misinformation and having fewer content safeguards than competing AI models. While Musk has described Grok-3 as a “maximally truth-seeking AI,” companies such as OpenAI and Google have been working on similar truth-seeking models while maintaining more structured safety measures.
Looking ahead, xAI plans to introduce a synthesized voice feature for Grok, similar to OpenAI’s Advanced Voice Mode in ChatGPT. The company has also announced that Grok-2 will be made open source in the coming months, signaling a push for greater transparency in AI development.
With the launch of Grok-3, xAI continues to position itself as a major player in the generative AI landscape. Whether its enhanced reasoning capabilities and AI search functionality can set it apart from competitors remains to be seen.
