Elon Musk's artificial intelligence startup, xAI, recently unveiled its latest AI assistant, Grok-2, in a beta version. This new large language model includes an image generation tool, similar to competitors like OpenAI's ChatGPT, Google's Gemini, and Midjourney. However, Grok-2 sets itself apart by having fewer restrictions on the types of images it can generate.
According to Forbes, the beta version of Grok-2 is accessible to X users who have subscribed to either a "Premium" or "Premium+" subscription. xAI described Grok-2 as an advanced AI assistant with capabilities in both text and vision understanding, integrating real-time information from the X platform. The company also introduced Grok-2 mini, a smaller model that balances speed and answer quality.
Independent AI benchmark sites have ranked Grok-2 among the top five chatbots globally, as reported by the Financial Times. Musk, the founder of xAI, shared an AI-generated image of George Washington and a video of him dancing with former President Trump, showcasing the capabilities of Grok-2.
In a recent lawsuit, Musk accused OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, of manipulating him into investing in the non-profit venture by promising a focus on safety and openness for the benefit of humanity. OpenAI, backed by Microsoft, dismissed the allegations as "incoherent and frivolous."
Musk's xAI has garnered significant investments, with plans to invest an additional $5 billion pending approval from Tesla's board. This investment would bring xAI's funding close to OpenAI's $13 billion valuation. The AI advancements made by xAI, OpenAI, and other competitors like Meta and Anthropic have been closely monitored and compared by industry experts.
Overall, the advancements in AI technology by xAI and its competitors have sparked both excitement and concerns about the future implications of artificial intelligence. As the industry continues to evolve, the focus remains on improving AI capabilities while addressing potential ethical and safety considerations.