8 Things Grok Does Best – Real Use Cases You’ll Actually Want to Try

When Grok launched in November 2023, it didn’t just quietly join the AI scene—it made waves. Why? Because it’s Elon Musk’s bold step into the world of large language models (LLMs). And, true to form, it’s a little different from the rest.

Unlike other AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini, Grok taps into real-time posts on X (formerly Twitter), giving it a fresh, live-stream feel. It’s fast, sharp, creative—and has a bit more of a rebellious streak, thanks to lighter content moderation.

So, what can Grok actually do? And why are people talking about it?

Let’s dive into 8 powerful things Grok is really good at, plus how you can make the most of it yourself.

Quick Highlights:

• Grok is the brainchild of x.AI, Elon Musk’s AI venture.

• The Grok-3 model is skilled at chatting, coding, and complex reasoning, and even handles tricky riddles and clever wordplay.

• It’s known for having a quirky, witty tone—you’ll notice it has a bit more personality than most bots.

• Unlike many AI tools, it’s less filtered, which can feel more open, but also means you should double-check the facts just to be safe.

What Is Grok? The “Funny” Chatbot That’s Actually Kind of a Big Deal

Grok interface

At first glance, Grok might sound like just another AI chatbot trying to crack jokes—but there’s more going on under the hood than meets the eye.

Grok is a generative AI assistant that you can chat with using regular, everyday language. As of May 14, 2025, it’s running on a powerful engine called Grok 3, a large language model (LLM) that’s surprisingly good at holding conversations, solving problems, and even writing code.

But the story doesn’t stop there.

Elon Musk’s xAI team has announced even more advanced versions—Grok 3.5 and Grok 4—on the way later this year. And in true Musk fashion, there’s a twist: Grok is also getting integrated into Tesla cars, meaning you might soon be talking to your AI co-pilot while driving.

Some users have been genuinely impressed by Grok’s abilities. One even said it solved a tricky riddle that ChatGPT and Claude couldn’t figure out. Others say it just feels different—more like talking to a quirky personality than a polished assistant.

So, what makes Grok stand out?

One big difference is that it has access to real-time web data, including posts from X (formerly Twitter). That gives it a more current and conversational edge when answering questions.

Another major draw? Way less content moderation. Unlike other AI tools that tend to play it safe, Grok isn’t afraid to get a little cheeky. The team behind it says Grok is supposed to have a “bit of wit” and even a “rebellious streak.” Whether that’s fun or frustrating depends on who you ask.

Not everyone’s laughing, though.

David Shoemaker, a philosophy professor at Cornell, had some sharp words:

“The ‘sarcasm’ of Grok is about as funny as Musk himself, which is to say: not much.”

Ouch.

Still, whether you love Grok’s humor or roll your eyes at it, there’s no denying it's more than just a joke machine. With serious tech behind it and ambitious plans ahead, Grok is shaping up to be a real player in the AI space—personality quirks and all.

Is Grok Free? What You Need to Know About Access and Pricing

If you’ve been curious about Grok and wondering if you can try it for free—good news! You can. But like most good things, there are a few strings attached.

Free Access to Grok – But With Limits

Anyone can use Grok through the X app, grok.com, or the Grok app on iOS and Android. Free users can chat with Grok, ask questions, and even generate images—but you’ll hit usage limits pretty quickly.

Here’s what free access includes (as of now):

• 10–18 text prompts every two hours (depending on where you live)
• 3 image analyses per day
• 4 image generations per day

To use Grok, your X account must be at least seven days old and linked to a phone number.

Just open the X app or site, tap the Grok icon on the toolbar, and start typing in the "Ask Anything" box.

You can ask questions, generate images, and even try Voice Mode on the mobile apps. But some features are off-limits to free users, like:

• Think and DeepSearch (for deeper, smarter responses)
• Document uploads
• Image editing
• And Grok won’t remember past conversations—so no context carryover

If you find yourself wanting more, that’s where the paid plans come in.

Paid Plans for More Power

If you’re ready to unlock Grok’s full potential, there are two main subscription tiers available:

• X Premium – $8/month or $84/year

(Prices might vary depending on where you live)

• X Premium+ – $40/month or $395/year

Both plans give you more prompts, fewer limitations, and access to advanced tools like Think and DeepSearch. Premium+ goes even further with:

• Fewer ads on X
• Early access to new Grok features
• Priority performance during high-traffic times

For Developers & Businesses: Grok API Access

If you're a developer or business looking to use Grok in your own tools or apps, xAI offers an Enterprise API.

As of May 2025, here’s the pricing for Grok 3:

• $3 per million input tokens
• $15 per million output tokens
• Faster mode: $5 input / $25 output (per million tokens)

For Grok 3 Mini, the more affordable option:

• $0.30 per million input tokens
• $0.50 per million output tokens
• Faster mode: $0.60 input / $4 output (per million tokens)

You can get started by signing up at console.x.ai and checking out any API credits available.

How to Use Grok: 8 Real-Life Ways to Put It to Work

So, you're curious about Grok AI and wondering what you can actually do with it? You're not alone. It might feel like just another chatbot at first glance, but Grok has some pretty useful features if you know where to look.

Here are 8 practical ways you can use Grok—whether you're just exploring or trying to get stuff done.

1. Ask It Anything

This is probably the most basic (yet surprisingly fun) use of Grok: just ask it a question. Type in something you’re curious about—like “When was the wheel invented?”—and hit Enter or click the little arrow.

Grok answers questions, but not always correctly.

It’ll usually give you a quick answer, sometimes even with a little historical background. But here’s a tip: don’t blindly trust everything it says. Large language models can sound confident even when they’re wrong. We noticed a few oddities, like confusing dates in history. So, it's smart to double-check anything important.

2. Make Images from Words

Yes, Grok can create images too—just type a prompt like “Draw a flower” or “Show me a fantasy city” and watch it generate four visuals.

Grok generates photo-realistic images.

Each image includes a watermark, and unlike some other tools, Grok even lets you create images of public figures. That’s been... controversial, to say the least. While it opens up creative potential, it also raises serious concerns about misinformation and fake content.

Grok can generate images of public figures

So if you’re using this feature, please use it responsibly. The line between creativity and harm is thinner than it seems.

3. Summarize Long Texts

Need to quickly understand a long article or report? Grok can break it down for you. You can paste the text in directly, or—if you’re a Premium user—upload a file like a PDF.

Grok can summarize texts via text input, links, or files.

We tested it with a cancer treatment article from WebMD, and the summary was clear and helpful. Just keep in mind, LLMs sometimes “hallucinate” or mix up facts, so always cross-check if accuracy matters.

4. Write Stuff (But Be Ready to Edit)

Trying to write a blog post, case study, or newsletter? Grok can definitely help get the ball rolling.

For example, we asked it to write a weekly AI newsletter. It delivered something decent, but... it needed work. Some of the formatting was odd, and the tone was pretty generic. Think of it as a starting point, not a polished final draft.

Grok can write an article, blog post, or newsletter.

5. Catch Up on the News

Thanks to its connection with the internet and X (formerly Twitter), Grok can pull in real-time news updates.

Grok can be your news summary tool.

Ask something like “What’s in the news today?” and it’ll fetch the latest headlines from X posts or other sites. You can even toggle between sources.

Grok can summarize the top posts on X.

We found that while it gave a general overview, exploring the Trending tab directly gave us a fuller picture. Still, it’s handy for quick updates.

6. Summarize X (Twitter) Threads

Scrolling through long threads can be exhausting. Thankfully, Grok can summarize them for you.

Grok can summarize X threads.

We tested it by asking Grok to summarize a post from Sam Altman. It didn’t catch every detail, but it captured the main message well—perfect for when you want the gist without reading 20 tweets.

7. Translate Text

Need to understand something in another language? Grok can translate across multiple languages. You can paste in the text or upload a file.

Grok can translate text into various languages

We tried translating a Spanish CNN article about TikTok, and Grok did just fine—on par with Google Translate. Still, since AI sometimes makes weird mistakes, give the output a quick review before trusting it completely.

8. Create Custom Quizzes

Whether you’re a teacher, a student, or just someone trying to learn something new, Grok can help you build quizzes.

Creating a quiz in Grok: questions generation.

Creating a quiz in Grok: questions generation.

We asked it to generate a quiz on SEO, and it gave us a solid list of questions and answers. Just make sure to check the answers—it’s not always 100% accurate, but it’s a great way to practice or prep for learning.

The Bottom Line

Grok has made quite the entrance—it’s flexible, fast, and full of personality. In a short amount of time, it’s become one of the most talked-about chatbots out there. And the best part? It’s now free to try, so anyone curious can jump in and see what it’s all about.

That said, like all AI chatbots, Grok isn’t perfect. Sometimes it might give you an answer that sounds right but isn’t actually true—something known as an AI “hallucination.” So, if you're asking about facts or complex topics, it’s always smart to double-check. Better safe than misled.

FAQs

1. What can I use Grok for?

Grok is a handy tool for a bunch of everyday tasks. You can ask it questions, create images, translate or summarize text, write content, and even break down posts and threads from X (formerly Twitter).

2. Can Grok do everything ChatGPT can?

Not exactly. While Grok offers many of the same features, it has a few unique tricks up its sleeve—like real-time access to posts on X and a looser approach to moderation. Still, ChatGPT might have the edge when it comes to structured content or more professional use cases.

3. What makes Grok stand out?

Grok shines with its ability to pull in real-time information, respond with a bit of humor and personality, generate images without too many limitations, and tackle coding and logic-based tasks pretty well. It's a powerful tool with a fun twist.