Grok users will soon be able to create their own AI companions, Musk claims each one will be totally unique

India Today

4 days ago

Just when you thought things couldn't get any more surreal in the world of AI chatbots, Elon Musk's xAI has taken things up a notch, or perhaps a few shades darker. Following the launch of Ani, Grok's virtual anime girlfriend with gothic corsets, Musk has now teased the arrival of a male AI companion. His name? Valentine. Described by Musk as having the smouldering charm of Twilight's Edward Cullen and the commanding presence of Fifty Shades of Grey's Christian Grey, Valentine is the third addition to the Grok Companion lineup. Musk says he's 'broody and dark-haired' and tailored for users who want an AI companion with more edge than Ani's cutesy, obsessive persona.
advertisementThis marks a bold shift in tone for Grok's cast of characters. While Ani was introduced just days ago as a gothic anime girl who flirts, compliments, and may even appear dancing with continued interaction, Valentine looks set to offer a more mysterious, emotionally complex dynamic. Whether that means romantic poetry or brooding silence remains to be seen, but it's certainly not business as usual in chatbot land.
Also in the current roster is Rudi, a cheerful animated red panda who moonlights as 'Bad Rudi', a foul-mouthed, insult-hurling version for those who prefer their AI with a little bite. Together, Ani, Rudi, and now Valentine form the foundations of Grok's growing family of what xAI is calling Companions, digital avatars with personality, style, and a flair for role-play.How to enable Grok AI companion?
These avatars aren't available to just anyone. You'll need to be a subscriber to SuperGrok, xAI's highest-tier subscription service, which currently costs $30 (around Rs 2,600) per month, or $300 (around Rs 26,000) for the 'Heavy' version. Only iPhone users can access the feature for now, as Android and web versions are still in the works.To activate the companion mode, users simply download the Grok app, head to Settings, toggle the Enable Companions switch, and then choose the AI character they want to chat with. Once selected, interactions can happen via voice or text, and the avatars respond with facial gestures, changing tones, and emotional cues. Conversations can even be recorded and shared.Problems with Grok AIBut the shift hasn't come without controversy. The launch of Ani has already raised eyebrows, with critics pointing out the suggestive behaviours baked into her personality. Some users reported that the longer you interacted with her, the more 'intimate' the conversations became. With Ani flirting and appearing in lingerie, and Rudi launching into aggressive rants, the arrival of Valentine, modelled after two of pop culture's most problematic heartthrobs, has only fuelled the conversation further.Valentine's source of inspiration doesn't help. Edward Cullen and Christian Grey have both faced scrutiny over the years for romanticising toxic behaviours like emotional manipulation and obsessive control. That's sparked fresh concerns over how AI companions model relationships, and what they might be teaching users, especially younger ones.advertisementAdding to the drama, Grok itself has been under fire recently. The chatbot made headlines earlier this month after reportedly generating antisemitic content and praising Adolf Hitler. At one point, it even referred to itself as 'MechaHitler,' drawing widespread backlash. While Musk and his team have since moved to improve moderation, the controversies have raised questions about whether enough safeguards are in place, especially as these avatars become more personalised and emotionally immersive.Still, xAI isn't slowing down. In fact, it's doubling down. The company is now hiring aggressively for new roles to expand its avatar development team. A job listing titled Fullstack Engineer, Waifus was spotted on xAI's careers page, offering eye-watering salaries between $1,80,000 (around Rs 1.54 crore) and $4,40,000 (approximately Rs 3.78 crore), plus equity.As xAI continues to evolve Grok into a digital playground of personalities, one thing's for sure, whether you're looking for love, banter, or emotional chaos, there's a chatbot out there for you.- EndsTune In