X now lets you mention Grok in replies, get explanations
What's the story
X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk, has rolled out a new feature allowing users to engage directly with its AI chatbot, Grok.
With this innovative interaction method, users can mention Grok in their replies and ask questions about a specific post.
Previously, Grok was accessible through a button in the sidebar and an option next to each post for explaining text and image content.
Similarity
Grok's functionality mirrors AI search engine Perplexity's account
For the last few weeks, an automated X account run by AI search engine Perplexity has been working similarly to Grok.
Users can ask this account about any post on the platform and receive an automated response in minutes.
This move aligns with the trend among companies developing AI models or tools to make their chatbots or solutions more accessible to users.
Comparison
Meta's approach to AI chatbot accessibility
Following suit, tech giant Meta has integrated Meta AI into the search bar of Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Messenger.
The company also launched a website for users to start a conversation with the chatbot across all these platforms.
According to reports, Meta is also working on a standalone Meta AI app. This trend emphasizes the industry's focus on making user interaction with AI chatbots seamless.
Expansion
xAI expands access to Grok chatbot
xAI's Grok chatbot was initially limited to X. However, the firm has been working on expanding access since the beginning of this year.
This includes launching a standalone Grok app for iOS and Android users and a dedicated website.
xAI also recently introduced a SuperGrok plan that offers additional features like unlimited image generation and early access to new features.