Short answer: xAI is the AI company Elon Musk announced in July 2023. It makes Grok, an AI assistant you can use through X (formerly Twitter), among other places. Since February 2026, xAI has been part of SpaceX.
Timeline
- 12 July 2023: xAI announces itself.
- 3 November 2023: Grok is announced. On 7 December 2023 it becomes available on X.
- 17 March 2024: xAI releases the weights of the first Grok model, so anyone can download that model.
- 2 February 2026: SpaceX acquires xAI. According to the merger documents filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, xAI is now a wholly owned subsidiary of SpaceX.
Grok
Grok is the name of both the assistant and the models behind it. According to xAI's own overview, Grok is now available on X, in apps for web, iOS and Android, and through an API for developers. There are also voice and image features and products for businesses.
New versions of the models arrive at a fast pace. That is why we give no version numbers or prices here. Check x.ai for the current overview.
Why does the link with X matter?
Because Grok is built into X, many people can use it without a separate app. For businesses it helps to know that xAI and X belong together: xAI took over X in 2025, and since 2026 both sit under SpaceX. As with any provider, check the terms for what happens to your input when you use it for work.
What does this mean for you?
Grok is one of the big general-purpose AI assistants, alongside ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini. Try the same task in several tools before you choose, and pay attention to where your data is processed.
As of October 2026. Company details and models change fast; check the current situation at the source.
Sources
- xAI: Company (timeline)
- xAI: xAI joins SpaceX (2 February 2026)
- SEC: Agreement and Plan of Merger between SpaceX and xAI (exhibit 2.1)
- CNBC: Elon Musk's SpaceX acquiring AI startup xAI (2 February 2026)
- Reuters: SpaceX acquires xAI (2 February 2026)
Accessed 21 October 2026.