Elon Musk restricts ‘Ask Grok’ feature to paid X subscribers

Elon Musk has introduced a major change to the artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot Grok, limiting one of its most widely used features to paying subscribers on X.

The update affects the “Ask Grok” tool, which allows users to summon the AI assistant directly within conversation threads. 

Previously available to all users, the feature is now restricted to those with X Premium or Premium+ subscriptions as of March 12.

Grok was developed by Musk’s AI company xAI, founded in 2023 after the billionaire acquired the social media platform — formerly known as Twitter — from Jack Dorsey.

The chatbot was integrated into X later that year and initially launched as a feature for premium subscribers before becoming free for all users in 2024.

The “Ask Grok” function quickly gained popularity among users who relied on it to answer questions, explain topics and sometimes help debunk misinformation circulating on the platform.

Under the new change, free users can still access Grok through the platform’s dedicated Grok tab or by visiting the chatbot’s website. 

However, they can no longer summon the AI directly within comment threads without a paid subscription.

The decision has sparked mixed reactions online. Some users criticised the move, arguing the feature had previously made AI tools more accessible to everyone.

Others supported the change, saying it could reduce excessive AI-generated replies and spam-like interactions on the platform.

The update reflects the platform’s continued push to expand paid features while integrating AI more deeply into its services.