Elon Musk has announced that Grok 4 is now available at no cost to all users, marking a significant shift in the accessibility of the AI model. The move expands access to the advanced language model, which was previously limited to subscribers of X Premium or higher tiers. By removing the paywall, Musk aims to accelerate adoption and competition in the AI space, positioning Grok 4 as a more widely available alternative to other large language models. The decision underscores Musk’s broader strategy to make AI tools more open and inclusive, while also boosting engagement on the X platform. Despite the free rollout, concerns remain around data privacy, content moderation, and the long-term sustainability of offering such powerful AI capabilities at no charge. The expansion comes amid growing rivalry between major tech companies over AI dominance, with Grok 4 now positioned to challenge models from OpenAI, Google, and Meta.

A day after OpenAI unveiled GPT-5 and made it freely available to all users, Elon Musk, CEO of xAI, responded by announcing that Grok 4 would be offered free of charge to all users for a limited time. This move is widely seen as a strategic reaction to the competitive pressure created by OpenAI’s bold step, which expanded access to its most advanced AI model and intensified the race for user dominance in the generative AI space. Musk, known for his aggressive public commentary, quickly took aim at OpenAI, asserting that Grok 4 remains superior in performance and capability, despite the release of GPT-5. In a series of social media posts, Musk not only defended Grok 4’s technical merits but also teased the future, claiming that Grok 5 is expected to be released before the end of 2025—though some of his statements suggested an even earlier timeline, with one post stating Grok 5 would launch before the end of this year. He described the upcoming model as “crushingly good,” reinforcing xAI’s ambition to stay ahead in the AI arms race. These claims are part of a broader effort to maintain public perception of xAI as a cutting-edge, innovation-driven force, especially in direct competition with OpenAI and its deep ties to Microsoft. The decision to offer Grok 4 for free is a clear attempt to retain and attract users amid growing competition. While Grok 4 has previously required a paid subscription, the temporary free access is designed to boost user engagement, increase visibility, and counter the momentum gained by GPT-5’s widespread availability. This strategy mirrors tactics used by other tech companies during high-stakes product launches, where temporary free access helps rapidly scale adoption and gather user feedback. According to Semrush data from August 2025, traffic analysis shows a noticeable shift in user behavior following the announcements. GPT-5 has seen a sharp rise in web traffic, reflecting strong user interest and the benefits of open access. However, Grok 4’s traffic has also increased significantly since the free access rollout, suggesting the move is having a measurable impact on user retention and acquisition. The data underscores the importance of accessibility in driving AI adoption, especially among casual users and developers who may be hesitant to commit to paid models. Despite the free access, xAI continues to emphasize the value of its premium offerings, including advanced features and faster response times available through paid subscriptions. The company is also investing heavily in infrastructure and model improvements, with reports indicating that Grok 5 is being trained on a vast, proprietary dataset and optimized for real-time reasoning and multimodal capabilities. Musk’s aggressive messaging and bold timelines reflect not only a competitive mindset but also a desire to position xAI as a long-term challenger to OpenAI’s leadership. By combining free access with high-profile announcements and ambitious roadmaps, xAI is attempting to build a loyal user base while signaling technological ambition. In the rapidly evolving AI landscape, where access, performance, and innovation are key differentiators, the battle between OpenAI and xAI is intensifying. While GPT-5’s free release has set a new standard, Grok 4’s temporary free availability and Musk’s confident projections suggest that the competition is far from over. As both companies push the boundaries of what AI can do, users stand to benefit from faster development, improved models, and more choices—though the long-term implications for content licensing, data use, and intellectual property remain unresolved.