What is Grok?
Quick answer
Grok is the AI assistant and model family made by xAI. You can chat with it at grok.com, in the Grok mobile apps or inside X. Like ChatGPT, it writes, answers questions, reads images and searches the web, and it can also draw on public posts on X.
Last updated
Updated · By Robert Breen
Why it matters for a small business
Grok's distinctive strength is recent information: because it is built into X, it can pull in what people are posting about a topic right now. That helps with spotting trends or reactions, and it is also the risk, since social posts are often wrong or one-sided. As of October 2026, xAI lists Grok 4.7 as its newest flagship model, and the SuperGrok plan at $30 a month for heavier personal use.
Who it suits: marketers and owners who want a quick read on public conversation, and people who already spend time on X. It is a less natural fit for writing inside Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, where Copilot and Gemini are built in. For work content, turn off Improve the Model in Grok's data settings or use Private Chat, which xAI says is not used for training.
In a real lesson: Get Your Business Recommended by ChatGPT
Stepthrough has no Grok lesson. The habit from Get Your Business Recommended by ChatGPT applies directly: when an assistant answers from the web, open Sources and see what it relied on before you trust it.
In that lesson the answer leaned on firm websites, a Chamber directory and a local "best of" list. With Grok, the sources may be posts on X. Check who wrote them before you repeat a claim.

Try this lesson free or read the step-by-step guide.
Common confusions
Grok vs xAI
Grok is the assistant and the models. xAI is the company that makes them.
Grok vs ChatGPT
Both are general assistants. Grok leans on real-time posts from X; ChatGPT has more office features such as projects and connectors to work files.
Tips
- Treat claims drawn from social posts as leads to verify, not facts.
- Use Private Chat for anything you don't want kept for training.
- Give Grok the same four-part prompt you use elsewhere, so you can compare answers fairly.
Related terms
More AI assistants terms
Where you use it: free lessons
- Get Your Business Recommended by ChatGPT (ChatGPT, 10 min)
- Prompt Writing 101: Role, Context, Task, Format (ChatGPT, 8 min)
Frequently asked questions
- Is Grok free?
- There is a free way to use Grok with limits. SuperGrok is $30 a month for higher limits, according to xAI as of October 2026. Some X subscriptions also include Grok features.
- How do I try Grok?
- Go to grok.com or download the Grok app and sign in, or open Grok inside the X app. Developers can create an account on xAI's API console and pay by tokens.
- Is Grok good for work?
- It handles everyday writing and questions well. For confidential client work, most companies prefer an assistant on a business plan with no training by default, so check your company's policy first.