In the fast-paced world of artificial intelligence, every new model promises to change the game. When Elon Musk’s AI company, xAI, released Grok 3, I was eager to give it a test run. Available exclusively to Premium X users, Grok 3 immediately caught the attention of tech enthusiasts, offering a mix of powerful features and advanced capabilities.

So, is Grok 3 AI really worth all the hype? After spending some time exploring it, here’s my honest review of Grok 3’s features, pros, cons, and how it stacks up against other AI models.

What Is Grok 3 AI?

Before diving into the details, let’s talk about what Grok 3 is all about. Grok 3 is the third iteration of the AI developed by xAI, Elon Musk’s company. It’s designed to integrate directly with X (formerly Twitter) and is currently available to Premium X users.

Unlike other chatbots or AI tools that you can only use in standalone apps, Grok is built into the social media experience. It combines sophisticated AI with real-time social media data, allowing users to have highly personalized, intelligent conversations.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: Is it just another chatbot or does it have some serious brainpower? Well, I was curious too, so I signed up to test it myself.


My First Impressions: Grok 3 in Action

When I first logged into X as a Premium user and activated Grok 3 AI, I was immediately impressed by how smoothly it integrated into the platform. Unlike some other AI models, Grok didn’t feel like an external tool. It felt like a natural extension of the X platform, ready to jump into conversations and offer insights with ease.

Screenshot of Grok 3 prompt page.

The setup was straightforward. I simply clicked on the Grok icon in the X app, and from there, I could start chatting. The interface is clean and simple, perfect for users who don’t want to get bogged down by unnecessary features. It’s clear that xAI aimed to make Grok 3 accessible and functional for everyday users.

I asked Grok 3 to tell me some of the most recent science news and I was impressed by its answer as it showed me topics that were in the headlines for today.

Screenshot of Grok 3 answer about recent science news.

This was very important as most users are looking for up to date information and I know from my DeepSeek review that the particular AI does not have current information.


Key Features of Grok 3

So, what does Grok 3 offer? I tested out the AI to check out its capabilities regarding problem-solving, thinking power, and deep research. This is what I discovered.

Advanced Reasoning & Problem-Solving


Grok 3 is designed to solve problems. Unlike many other AI models that can hold simple conversations or provide basic answers, Grok is built to reason through complex issues. Whether it’s helping me debug code or solving a tricky math problem, Grok seems to excel at tasks that require more than just surface-level understanding.

I tried asking Grok to help with a coding challenge, and it not only solved the problem but explained the solution in a way that made it easy to understand.

Big Brain Mode


One of the coolest features I discovered was Grok’s “Big Brain” mode. This mode is supposed to give Grok more “thinking power,” allowing it to dive deeper into topics and provide more detailed insights. I tried asking Grok some tough questions about philosophy, and I was impressed with the depth of its responses. It felt like I was talking to a real expert on the subject.

Deep Search Capabilities


Unlike many other AI systems that rely solely on pre-trained knowledge, Grok 3 can actually search the web and pull up current information. I tested this by asking Grok about the latest trends in AI, and it provided a fresh, up-to-date answer—something you don’t always get with other models that are locked into older databases.

Multimodal Features (Coming Soon)


xAI has plans to make Grok even more versatile by adding voice capabilities. As of now, it’s text-based, but they’ve teased that voice interactions will be available soon. If it lives up to the promise, this could be a game-changer in the world of AI assistants.


How Does Grok 3 Compare to Other AI Models?

I’ve used plenty of AI models before, including OpenAI’s GPT-4 and DeepSeek’s V3, so I wanted to compare Grok 3 with the competition. Here’s how it stacks up:

FeatureGrok 3GPT-4DeepSeek V3Gemini
ReasoningAdvanced problem-solvingGreat at language processingStrong in factual queriesSolid understanding
Search abilityReal-time web & X searchLimited to training dataBasic search capabilitiesSearch results integrated
CreativityHigh, but balanced by safetyVery creative, less focusedDecent creativityStrong in creative tasks
User experienceSeamless on XBest in standalone appsStrong in enterprise usageSmooth, integrated into Google apps
AvailabilityPremium X users onlyOpen to general usersEnterprise-focusedAvailable in Google Suite
Recent informationYesYesNo (stops at October 2023)Yes

A padlock on top of a keyboard.

Is Grok 3 Secure? Privacy Concerns

When using AI tools like Grok, data privacy is always a concern. While Grok promises to keep user data private, it’s important to note that, like any tool integrated with social media, there are risks involved. Data from your interactions could be analyzed and used to improve Grok’s capabilities, but it could also be shared with other parts of the X platform.

xAI has made efforts to ensure user security, but it’s always a good idea to be mindful of what information you share with any AI system. Always read the privacy policies and terms of service to understand how your data is handled.


Pros and Cons of Grok 3

After conducting my review of Grok 3, I thought it would be great for future users to know some of Grok’s pros and cons.

Pros

  • Strong problem-solving abilities: Grok’s ability to reason through complex tasks really sets it apart from other AI models. I tested it with everything from coding problems to high-level concepts, and it always delivered thoughtful and accurate answers.
  • Real-time web search: Grok’s integration with X allows it to pull up the latest information in real time, which makes it feel more current and relevant compared to other models that rely solely on static datasets.
  • User-Friendly: The integration with X makes Grok easy to use, especially if you’re already on the platform. There’s no need for extra apps or complicated setups—it’s right there when you need it.
  • Exciting Future Features: The promise of voice interactions and even more advanced reasoning in the future makes Grok 3 feel like it’s constantly evolving. I’m really excited to see where this tool will go next.

Cons

  • Lack of creativity in some areas: While Grok is great at problem-solving, it sometimes lacks the creative spark that you get from models like GPT-4. If you’re looking for something that can come up with out-of-the-box ideas or generate poetry, Grok might not be your best choice.
  • Currently only for Premium X users: At the moment, Grok 3 is only available to Premium X users. This means if you’re not subscribed, you won’t be able to try it out. While it’s a powerful tool, I do wish it was more accessible to everyone.
  • Data privacy concerns: Since Grok 3 pulls real-time data from X, there are some privacy concerns. Users might worry about their conversations and data being used by X or shared with third parties. It’s important to be aware of how your data is handled when using this kind of AI tool.

What do Reddit Users Say About Grok 3 AI?

Based on user discussions on Reddit, here are some insights regarding Grok 3:

  1. Real-time information advantage: One user mentioned, “Big AI user and been finding myself using grok more than GPT as of lately. Mainly due to the real-time info Grok seems to have compared to GPT.”
  2. Impressive performance: Another user shared, “It’s been fun for me so far. Just doing one month for now. But it pretty impressive so far.”
  3. Subscription considerations: A user reflected, “I feel stupid k should have gotten the premium plus yearly subscription last year instead of the normal premium one.”
  4. Comparative superiority: Another user stated, “GPT 4o for me was a millionfold better than Grok 2, Grok 3 beats 4o. And with thinking it’s honestly insane value. Deep search is better than perplexity’s currently.”
  5. Switching from ChatGPT: A user explained, “Just canceled my ChatGPT Plus subscription and switched to X Premium Plus. If you think about it, you’re only paying $10 more for the AI and all the benefits on X as well (no ads, verified profile, monetization, etc…) if you use that platform.”

These comments reflect a range of user experiences and considerations regarding Grok 3, particularly in comparison to other AI models and subscription services.


Final Verdict: Is Grok 3 AI Worth It?

After spending some time with Grok 3 AI, I can confidently say that it’s one of the most powerful AI tools I’ve used. Its ability to reason through complex problems and provide real-time, relevant information makes it stand out. While it might not be the most creative AI out there, it more than makes up for it with its robust problem-solving skills and seamless integration with X.

If you’re a Premium X user and looking for an AI that will help you with everything from coding to real-time research, Grok 3 is definitely worth trying. The future looks bright with the upcoming voice capabilities, and I’m excited to see how it develops.

If you’re not yet on X Premium, it might be worth considering if you’re interested in AI tools like Grok 3. While it’s currently locked behind a paywall, the experience is top-notch for those who can access it.

FAQs

What are the standout features of Grok 3?

Grok 3 is xAI’s third-generation AI model, boasting advanced reasoning capabilities, a “think” mode for self‑correcting logic, and a real-time search feature called DeepSearch. It’s notably powerful in tasks involving technical reasoning, coding, mathematics, and STEM queries.

How does Grok 3 compare to other AI models like GPT‑4 and Gemini?

Grok 3 performs exceptionally well on benchmarks for math, science, and coding—often outperforming GPT‑4o, Gemini, Claude, and DeepSeek in those areas. That said, it isn’t definitively better overall and ChatGPT still leads in creative writing and general-purpose tasks.

What are the pros and cons of using Grok 3?

Some key advantages include fast responses, strong performance on complex technical tasks, real-time web knowledge, multimodal support, and deep contextual understanding. Downsides include ethical concerns around misinformation or bias, limited ecosystem integrations, potential privacy risks, the high cost of compute infrastructure, and still relatively low adoption compared to legacy AI systems.

Is Grok 3 reliable and safe to use?

While it can offer accurate support in technical domains and fact-checking workflows, Grok 3 has also produced controversial or incorrect content—including politically charged statements or conspiracy-like responses. It may contradict its founder’s viewpoints on sensitive topics, highlighting that bias and misinformation risk remain concerns and human oversight is recommended.