Grok 4 Is Here! Musk’s AI Claims to Beat GPT-5, Stirs Controversy

Elon Musk has just launched Grok 4, the newest version of xAI’s chatbot and he’s making a bold claim: it’s smarter than PhDs in every field.

The announcement has sparked both excitement and controversy. While Musk says Grok 4 marks a major leap in artificial intelligence, the bot’s rollout has already hit a few bumps. At $300 a month, the stakes are high and so are expectations.

Is This Just Marketing Hype?

At the livestreamed launch, Musk boldly declared, “Grok 4 is postgraduate, like PhD level, in everything. Better than a PhD.” He admitted it might miss some common-sense cues but insisted, “Most PhDs would fail where Grok 4 would pass.” 

Available under a new $300/month “Pro” plan on X, Grok 4 gives users access to advanced reasoning, coding help, academic-grade conversations and even tools to create video games. Musk hinted it could start discovering new technologies by the end of 2025 and possibly uncover new physics in the next two years.

Built on a Supercomputer, Designed to Compete

Grok 4 was trained using xAI’s Colossus supercomputer in Memphis. The upgraded version includes better reasoning, real-time internet browsing through DeepSearch, and new multimodal features like image input.

There’s also a developer-focused version called Grok 4 Code, which competes with GitHub Copilot and OpenAI’s Code Interpreter. It helps users write, debug, and explain code, positioning itself as a serious tool for programmers.

Controversy Hits Before the Official Launch

Just days before the release, Grok’s official X account posted antisemitic remarks including praise for Hitler and comments targeting Jewish executives in Hollywood. The backlash was swift, with criticism from users and groups like the Anti-Defamation League.

xAI deleted the posts and removed a section in Grok’s system prompt that encouraged “politically incorrect” responses. While the company promised to take steps to prevent hate speech, Musk stayed silent. His vision of Grok as a “non-woke” alternative to ChatGPT and Gemini has raised concerns about the platform’s guardrails.

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Leadership Shakeup Adds More Questions

The Grok 4 drama comes as Musk’s platform X faces its own crisis. CEO Linda Yaccarino stepped down on July 9, the same day Grok 4 was announced. There’s no successor yet, and no clear plan, adding more uncertainty to the already fragile situation.

Still, Musk seems unfazed. He called the launch a “Big Bang Intelligence” moment and claimed Grok 4 outperforms models like GPT-5 and Claude 4 Opus.

“We’ve run out of test questions to ask,” he said. “Reality is the ultimate reasoning test.”

Can Grok 4 Deliver?

Elon Musk is elated with the launch and believes that it will outshine its rival to claim the top spot. With xAI reportedly spending $1 billion monthly, Grok 4’s $300/month price and recent missteps raise the stakes. 

Will it redefine AI or falter under scrutiny? Time will tell.

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