xAI Grok-2 Update December 2024 Release Notes

xAI has released an updated version of the Grok-2 model, which is three times faster and features improved accuracy, instruction-following, and multi-lingual capabilities. This update is being rolled out to all users on the X platform for free, while Premium and Premium+ users maintain higher usage limits and priority access to future features.

Model Performance and Availability

The updated Grok-2 model provides a significant increase in speed and intelligence. According to xAI, the model is three times faster than previous versions and demonstrates improved performance in accuracy, instruction-following, and multi-lingual capabilities.

For general users, the model is now available for free on the X platform. Premium and Premium+ subscribers continue to receive higher usage limits and priority access to new capabilities.

Real-Time Information and Search

Grok integrates directly with the X platform to provide real-time world events. To enhance this experience, xAI has introduced two primary features:

  • Web Search: Grok now utilizes posts from X and webpages from the broader internet to provide timely answers.
  • Citations: The model now includes citations, allowing users to verify information and explore sources directly.

Image Generation with Aurora

Image generation in Grok is powered by Aurora, an autoregressive image generation model designed for high photorealism.

Beyond standard image generation, xAI has introduced the "draw me" feature. This tool allows users to generate reimagined versions of themselves by leveraging information from their X profile. Users can also create their own versions of images by clicking the "Create your version with Grok" button on other users' posts.

Timeline Integration and Analysis

xAI has introduced the "Grok button," a feature integrated directly into the home timeline on X. This button allows users to discover relevant context, understand real-time events, and dive deeper into trending discussions as they browse their feed.

API Access and Pricing

Developers can now access the updated Grok-2 models via the enterprise API. Two new models have been added:

  • grok-2-1212
  • grok-2-vision-1212

These models are designed for developers seeking highly-steerable and intelligent models with improved accuracy and instruction-following. Due to efficiency improvements, xAI has lowered the pricing for these models to $2 per 1 million input tokens and $10 per 1 million output tokens. New users can sign up for the API with $25 in free credits.

Aurora image generation will also be made available via the API in the coming weeks.

Sources

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