Tag: xAI

  • Musk’s xAI Acquires X for $33 Billion in Stock Deal

    Musk’s xAI Acquires X for $33 Billion in Stock Deal

    Key Takeaways

    1. Elon Musk’s AI firm xAI acquired X for $33 billion, valuing the company at $45 billion after accounting for $12 billion in debt.
    2. X has over 600 million active users and has seen an increase in stock price since its launch in 2006.
    3. xAI, founded in 2023, aims to “understand the universe” and its Grok AI is now among the top three AI models globally.
    4. xAI received $6 billion in Series C funding, allowing for an upgrade of their supercomputer, Colossus, to 200,000 Nvidia Hopper GPUs.
    5. The acquisition may change how Grok accesses public data on X, raising concerns for users about the potential use of their data by AI.


    Elon Musk’s AI firm, xAI, has bought X for $33 billion in a deal entirely made with stock. This amount reflects a valuation of $45 billion, taking into account $12 billion in debt. In 2022, Musk acquired Twitter for $44 billion in cash, later rebranding it to X.

    User Engagement and Growth

    Musk pointed out that X boasts more than 600 million active users and remains a favored site since its debut in 2006. The stock price of the company has also seen an increase in recent years.

    Milestones for xAI

    Founded in 2023 with private funding, xAI aims to “understand the universe.” Its Grok AI has surged up the Chatbot Arena Leaderboard, now ranking among the top three AI models globally. Grok was developed on a supercomputer named Colossus, which features 100,000 Nvidia Hopper GPUs.

    In December 2024, the company secured $6 billion in Series C funding from a variety of investors such as Blackrock, Kingdom Holdings, Morgan Stanley, and Sequoia Capital. This influx of capital will enable xAI to upgrade Colossus to a 200,000 Nvidia Hopper GPU supercomputer.

    Implications for Data Access

    Currently, Grok has the ability to access public posts on X, and the recent acquisition may alter the data access for xAI’s AI, as Musk said, “Today, we officially take the step to combine the data, models, compute, distribution and talent.” Users worried about the permanent use of their X data by AI might want to consider switching to alternative social media networks and deleting their X accounts.

    For those interested in exploring new applications with the open-source Grok AI model, a powerful Nvidia GPU is available for purchase on Amazon.

    Source:
    Link


  • xAI Launches Grok 3 AI: Top Performance & Beta Reasoning Models

    xAI Launches Grok 3 AI: Top Performance & Beta Reasoning Models

    Key Takeaways

    1. xAI has launched the Grok 3 series of advanced AI language models, outperforming competitors in standardized benchmarks.
    2. The models were developed using a supercomputer cluster with 100,000 Nvidia GPUs, featuring both standard and mini non-reasoning variants.
    3. Grok 3 models have a one million token context window, allowing them to analyze large amounts of text for more accurate answers.
    4. The reasoning models break down complex queries methodically, excelling in math problems, coding tasks, and graduate-level questions.
    5. xAI plans to enhance Grok 3 further with a supercomputer cluster of 200,000 GPUs, currently available to Premium users on X and Grok.com.


    Elon Musk’s xAI has introduced the Grok 3 series, a new set of advanced AI large language models that excel in performance compared to other AI systems on standardized benchmarks.

    Technical Specifications

    The Grok 3 models were developed using the company’s Colossus supercomputer cluster, which features 100,000 Nvidia Hopper Tensor Core GPUs. There are two types of models released: standard and mini non-reasoning variants (Grok 3 beta and Grok 3 mini beta), along with their reasoning counterparts (Grok 3 beta (Think) and Grok 3 mini beta (Think)).

    Performance Insights

    The non-reasoning models have shown to outperform previous leading AI models, including OpenAI’s GPT-4o and DeepSeek-V3. A significant factor in their success is the extensive one million token context window, enabling the AI to analyze vast amounts of text. This capability enhances the models’ efficiency in generating accurate answers from diverse sources. However, it is important to note that the Grok 3 beta models still achieve less than 50% accuracy for fact-seeking questions on the SimpleQA benchmark, meaning human jobs are safe—at least for now.

    Reasoning Abilities

    The reasoning models approach complex queries methodically, providing visibility into the AI’s reasoning process. This allows the AI to deconstruct problems in a way similar to human experts, solving smaller components and then merging those solutions for a comprehensive answer. By selecting the DeepSearch agent, users instruct Grok 3 to perform extensive searches across the internet and utilize code interpreters, culminating in reports that summarize its discoveries. Notably, the Grok 3 (Think) models tend to excel in tackling math problems, addressing graduate-level multiple-choice questions, and executing coding tasks when compared to other AI.

    xAI plans to keep refining Grok 3 for better performance in the coming months, leveraging a supercomputer cluster with 200,000 GPUs. Currently, Grok 3 is accessible to Premium and Premium+ users on X and Grok.com.

    Source:
    Link


  • Elon Musk’s Grok 3 Enters AI Race: Overhyped or Competitive?

    Elon Musk’s Grok 3 Enters AI Race: Overhyped or Competitive?

    Key Takeaways

    1. Claims of Superiority: Elon Musk asserts that Grok 3 is the “smartest artificial intelligence on Earth,” expected to excel in mathematics, science, and programming.

    2. Launch Challenges: Grok 3 faced scrutiny during its launch due to incorrect answers to simple questions, raising questions about its reliability.

    3. Competitive Edge: Despite claims of being “far ahead,” Grok 3’s performance lead over competitors like DeepSeek R1 and GPT-4.0 is only 1-2%.

    4. Resource Investment: Built with 200,000 H100 chips and 200 million training hours, Grok 3’s slight edge raises concerns about the efficiency of such extensive computational resources.

    5. Infrastructure Growth and Funding: xAI is expanding its infrastructure with $10 billion in funding and plans for a large supercomputer cluster, aiming for significant advancements in AI capabilities.


    Elon Musk’s xAI has rolled out Grok 3, which Musk boldly claims is “the smartest artificial intelligence on Earth.” He says it’s a game changer that can outperform all other mainstream AIs in areas like mathematics, science, and programming. Musk also suggested that Grok 3 might help with SpaceX’s Mars mission and could lead to groundbreaking discoveries worthy of a Nobel Prize within three years.

    Launch Event Issues

    Even with its advanced features, Grok 3 encountered some issues during its launch. It struggled to answer a simple AI test question about the difference between “9/11” and “9/9,” which caused some users to doubt its reasoning skills. Furthermore, Grok 3 shared incorrect details about the game Path of Exile 2 during the event, raising alarms about the reliability of its answers.

    Competitive Analysis

    xAI stated that Grok 3 is “far ahead” of its rivals, but a closer look reveals its lead is merely 1-2% over models like DeepSeek R1 and GPT-4.0. Although this ranking places it among the top AI systems, the performance gap is quite minimal.

    Development and Training Details

    Grok 3 was built using 200,000 H100 chips and received 200 million hours of training. Yet, despite these substantial resources, it only slightly surpassed DeepSeek V3, which was trained on 2,000 H800 chips for a mere two months. These findings have sparked discussions about diminishing returns in AI scaling and whether such massive computational investments are efficient.

    Subscription Availability

    Grok 3 can be accessed by X Premium+ subscribers, and xAI has unveiled a new subscription tier named SuperGrok for mobile app and Grok.com users. This aligns with the trend of AI companies providing tiered access to their models.

    New Features and Updates Ahead

    One of the standout features of Grok 3 is DeepSearch, a sophisticated tool aimed at improving search, research, and data analysis abilities. xAI has also revealed intentions to incorporate voice interaction in future updates, making user interactions more intuitive and friendly.

    Financial Backing and Infrastructure Growth

    xAI is ramping up its infrastructure by securing $10 billion in funding, potentially valuing the company at around $75 billion. The firm is working on a supercomputer cluster named “Colossus” in Memphis, Tennessee, expected to be one of the largest globally. Additionally, xAI is negotiating with Dell Technologies for a $5 billion purchase of servers using Nvidia GB200 chips.

    Musk’s Attempt to Acquire OpenAI

    In a significant move, Musk along with a group of investors proposed $97.4 billion to take over OpenAI’s nonprofit assets. However, OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman and the board turned down this offer, highlighting the fierce competition and strategic maneuvering within the AI sector.

    Grok 3 represents a crucial advancement for xAI in the crowded AI landscape. Although it has introduced new features and secured substantial funding, its performance during the launch has raised concerns about its actual effectiveness. As xAI works on improving the model and enhancing its infrastructure, only time will tell if Grok 3 can fulfill its lofty goals.

  • Elon Musk’s xAI Tests Standalone iOS App for Grok

    Elon Musk’s xAI Tests Standalone iOS App for Grok

    After a trial run of X’s AI chatbot, Grok, in select areas last month, the social media giant has opened up access to all users earlier this month. Now, it seems that xAI is experimenting with a separate app for Grok in certain regions.

    iOS Beta App

    According to Techcrunch, the standalone app is exclusively for Apple’s iOS and is currently in beta testing in a few countries. Last month, The Wall Street Journal mentioned that X was interested in separating Grok from its main platform and was thinking about creating a standalone application. Along with the app, there’s also a dedicated website for the chatbot that states “coming soon.”

    New Features Added

    This month, xAI introduced image generation capabilities to Grok using an autoregressive image model that can skillfully predict token inputs “from interleaved text and image data.” It also has the ability to take pre-existing images as input and create new images based on those.

    Free Version Access

    At the moment, you can use Grok for free, though there are some limitations. The free version restricts users to asking 10 questions every 2 hours and allows for the analysis of three images on a daily basis.

    Techcrunch and The Wall Street Journal have reported these developments.

    Source: Link

  • Grok Unveils Advanced Image Generation Model with Text and Face Features

    Grok Unveils Advanced Image Generation Model with Text and Face Features

    xAI has recently introduced an image generation feature to Grok, marking a significant enhancement for the platform. Currently, this feature is accessible to X users in select countries, with a worldwide launch anticipated in approximately one week.

    Advanced Image Creation

    The image generator, which was originally named Aurora, is now integrated into the Grok family. It employs a sophisticated autoregressive mixture-of-experts system that has been trained on billions of examples sourced from the internet. In simple terms, it can foresee the next pieces of information by merging text and visuals, enabling it to produce far more lifelike images than before.

    Enhanced Functionality

    However, the capabilities extend beyond just generating images from nothing. This system can also modify existing images, allowing users to adjust them or draw inspiration for new designs. According to xAI, the model excels particularly in areas where other generators tend to falter, such as accurately rendering text, logos, and human faces.

    Continuous Improvement

    This update follows the launch of Grok 1.5V in April, which provided the platform with its initial experience in visual processing. xAI has plans for ongoing improvement—currently, they are enhancing their Colossus supercomputer located in Memphis, which already boasts 100,000 Nvidia H100 and H200 GPUs, with intentions to soon double that capacity.

    The timing of this release is noteworthy, especially since OpenAI has just unveiled its own video generation model, Sora. This development highlights the intensifying competition in generative AI among major industry players.

    Source: Link

  • X Unveils New Image Generator for Limited Time

    X Unveils New Image Generator for Limited Time

    xAI, the AI startup started by Elon Musk, launched a new image generator called Aurora over the weekend, but then quickly took it down again. The company shared news about this generator, and Musk himself said that it was in beta.

    Quick Removal

    Just a few hours after Aurora was made available, the model was pulled offline. The option to choose it in Grok’s model picker was removed. TechCrunch had the chance to try out the model and noted that it did not have any restrictions regarding public figures or celebrities.

    Creative Outputs

    Some users who were able to access the generator shared some fun images. Among these were pictures of Adam Sandler and Ray Romano on a sitcom set, Sam Altman riding a giraffe, and a boxing match between Mickey Mouse and Luigi.

    Specifications and Future Improvements

    Details about the model’s specifications are not clear, but Musk mentioned that it was an internal model in beta that would “improve very fast.” Recently, the social media platform owned by Musk made Grok free for all users, but with certain limitations.

    TechCrunch’s coverage highlights the excitement and mystery surrounding the sudden launch and removal of the Aurora image generator.

  • Try Grok AI Assistant for Free: Available to All Users Now

    Try Grok AI Assistant for Free: Available to All Users Now

    X has made its Grok AI chatbot available for free to everyone. We first learned about the free version of Grok last month, when X began testing it in select countries. Now, it seems that this feature is accessible all around the globe.

    Availability and Limitations

    As noticed by X user @blankspeaker, xAI’s main chatbot is now being rolled out to all users on the platform. Previously, this chatbot was only for X Premium and X Premium Plus subscribers. As anticipated, the free version has some limitations; users can ask only 10 questions every 2 hours and analyze just 3 images each day. To get more access, people will need to subscribe. These limits are much stricter compared to the free versions of ChatGPT and Claude.

    How to Access Grok

    Currently, Grok is only available through the X platform, though there are rumors of a standalone app being developed. To try it out, sign into your X account and look for the Grok tab on the left sidebar if you’re on desktop. If you’re using the mobile app, it can be found in the bottom navigation bar, third from the right.

    Competitors and Future Prospects

    For those who don’t know, Grok is a generative AI chatbot made by Elon Musk’s AI firm, xAI. While it competes directly with ChatGPT and Claude, it hasn’t received much attention due to its limited access. Launching a free tier is a positive move, but Grok still has a significant distance to cover before it can truly compete with others in the market.


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  • Elon Musk Aims to Secure $6 Billion Funding for xAI, Valuing it at $20 Billion

    Elon Musk Aims to Secure $6 Billion Funding for xAI, Valuing it at $20 Billion

    Elon Musk’s xAI: A $6 Billion Venture in the World of Artificial Intelligence

    Introduction

    Elon Musk, known for his innovative ventures, is now directing his focus towards artificial intelligence (AI) with his latest project, xAI. This ambitious undertaking is not just another addition to Musk’s futuristic portfolio but a challenging move in the highly competitive world of AI. In order to propel xAI forward, Musk is reportedly in discussions to secure a staggering $6 billion in funding, with a target valuation of $20 billion.

    Global Interest in AI Investment

    xAI’s fundraising efforts have garnered attention from investors across the globe. From family offices in Hong Kong to sovereign wealth funds in the Middle East, there is a universal appeal for cutting-edge AI technologies. This widespread interest highlights the immense potential of AI and underscores Musk’s reputation as a visionary, despite the recent challenges faced by Twitter/X.

    Surging Investments in the AI Sector

    The field of AI has experienced a surge in activity, with substantial investments pouring into the sector. xAI’s expected funding surpasses its initial $1 billion target, further emphasizing the confidence investors have in the potential of AI. With a valuation set to rival some of the industry’s leading players, Musk’s latest venture is poised to pave the way for a new chapter in AI development.

    Musk’s Journey in AI

    Musk’s involvement in the AI world dates back to his pivotal role in the founding of OpenAI. His departure from OpenAI’s board in 2018 did not diminish his interest in the field; rather, it motivated him to forge his own path in AI with xAI. Last year, xAI made headlines with “Grok,” a chatbot that directly challenges OpenAI’s ChatGPT. This exemplifies the competitive nature of the AI industry, where innovation and advancements are constantly driving progress.

    In conclusion, Elon Musk’s xAI venture represents a significant leap forward in the realm of artificial intelligence. With a potential $6 billion in funding and a target valuation of $20 billion, xAI is poised to make a lasting impact in the AI landscape. Musk’s dedication to pushing the boundaries of technology is evident, and his foray into AI with xAI is yet another testament to his visionary mindset. As the AI hype train continues to gain momentum, investors and enthusiasts alike eagerly await the next breakthrough in this rapidly evolving field.

  • Grok, the chatbot developed by Elon Musk’s AI startup xAI, is now available

    Grok, the chatbot developed by Elon Musk’s AI startup xAI, is now available

    Introducing Grok: xAI’s New AI Chatbot

    Elon Musk’s AI startup, xAI, has recently launched a new AI chatbot called Grok. This chatbot is designed to compete with the popular Generative AI and offers similar functionalities to OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

    Grok’s Superior Performance

    Grok has been developed to outperform ChatGPT-3.5 in various academic tests, particularly in math and coding. xAI conducted evaluations using standard machine learning benchmarks, and Grok surpassed other models in its compute class, including ChatGPT-3.5 and Inflection-1. It was only surpassed by models with significantly larger training data and compute resources, such as GPT-4.

    Additionally, xAI hand-graded Grok on the 2023 Hungarian national high school finals in mathematics. Grok achieved a C (59%), outperforming Claude-2 with the same grade (55%), and GPT-4 with a B (68%).

    Grok’s Unique Features

    Grok sets itself apart by not only answering user queries but also asking its own questions, inspired by the humorous tone of “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.” It is designed to provide witty responses and has a rebellious streak, adding a touch of humor to interactions.

    Grok’s Availability and Future Development

    While Grok is currently in its early beta stage, xAI is continuously improving its performance. The company is also working on implementing additional safety measures to prevent malicious use of the chatbot.

    Grok is available on X Premium Plus for $16 per month, but currently, access is limited to a select number of users in the United States.