- X rolls out AI chatbot Grok to all US subscribers, aiming for global English availability.
- Success of paid chatbot remains uncertain amid advertiser fallout over moderation policies.
- Grok’s refinement critical to boosting struggling platform’s revenue streams.
After launching its AI chatbot Grok to U.S. Premium+ subscribers last week, social media platform X has rolled out the software to all paying American customers.
Grok goes global
Company CEO Elon Musk tweeted that Grok’s expansion aims to eventually reach all English users within a week, followed by Japanese speakers and hopefully all languages by early 2024.
However, whether wider Grok availability substantially boosts X’s revenue remains uncertain.
Revenue Strategy
While subscription sales hit record highs in November, advertising still represents the bulk of earnings. This comes as X faces an advertiser exodus over content moderation concerns, with Musk memorably telling brands to “fuck off.”
If ad dollars dry up, the chatbot’s success may prove crucial for X’s financial sustainability.
Grok’s Competitors
Experts also caution that Musk’s ambitious timelines often go unmet. But with competitors like ChatGPT and Google’s Bard available for free, X hopes unique offerings like Grok will entice more users to pay $16 per month for Premium+ membership.
Early user feedback will likely shape Grok’s rapid iterative development in the weeks ahead as X walks the line between innovation and controversy.
