X now lets you query Grok by mentioning it in replies | TechCrunch

X is actively working to expand the reach of xAI’s Grok model to more users on the platform. Multiple users noted today that people can now mention Grok in replies and ask a question to get an explanation about a post.

Users of the Elon Musk-owned social media platform could already access Grok through a button in the sidebar. They can also click on the Grok button placed next to all posts so that the AI-powered chatbot explains the post’s text and image through the image understanding feature the model gained last year.

For the last few weeks, AI-powered search engine Perplexity has been running an automated X account that works pretty much the same way. Users can ask questions about any of the posts on the platform — they get an automated reply a few minutes later.

All companies developing AI models or tools aim to increase user accessibility to their chatbots or solutions. Meta, which develops Llama models, included Meta AI in the search bar of Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Messenger. It also launched a website and enabled users to start a conversation with the chatbot on all of these platforms. The company is reportedly developing a standalone Meta AI app.

In comparison, Musk-owned xAI’s Grok chatbot was primarily available through X. However, the company has launched new ways to access its AI assistant since the beginning of this year. There’s a standalone Grok app on both iOS and Android, as well as a dedicated site. xAI also recently launched a SuperGrok plan with extra features like unlimited image generation and early access to new features.