Latest news with #Grok-3
India Today
12-05-2025
- Business
- India Today
Cursor kicks out Indians from its 1-year free plan for students
Viral AI vibe coding tool Cursor has quietly removed India from its free one-year Pro subscription plan for students without any formal intimation. The offer was initially available to students in India, reports said, but Cursor has since pulled it down without providing any explanation. Needless to say, the move has sparked a wave of criticism across the is offering a 12-month Pro subscription to students globally for free at the time of writing. The scheme was rolled out very recently giving students a chance to avail 500 fast requests per month for AI models such as GPT-4o, Claude 3.7 Sonnet, and Grok-3. Sign-up requires email or enrollment proof for verification. Payment details are also asked for but there is no payment for the first year. Standard charges – per the plan pricing – apply thereafter unless it is many Indian students who have been trying to register lately are surprised to find their country missing from the eligibility list. Forum posts on Cursor's website show users expressing frustration, calling it unfair and pointing out India's massive contribution to the global tech ecosystem. One user wrote, 'Omitting India is a mistake,' while another added, 'Injustice is done to Indian students many were still trying to get in.' Although there is no official statement from Cursor on the matter, users are speculating the change may be due to misuse such as account reselling or spam that led Cursor to remove the free scheme for users in India. Cursor initially included India but appears to have quietly removed it later, possibly as a countermeasure to crackdown on abuse of the free is developed by US-based tech startup Anysphere. It is built on Microsoft's Visual Studio Code and supports several large language models including its own, as well as those from OpenAI and Amazon-backed Anthropic. Cursor recently hit over a million daily users and grew its annual recurring revenue from $100 million in January to $200 million in April. Anysphere has been by four MIT graduates in 2022, the company just closed a $900 million funding round led by Thrive Capital. It is currently valued at nearly $9 billion. The rise has been so meteoric than even OpenAI apparently was eying to buy it. The decision to exclude India from its student plan, however, has raised eyebrows at a time when the company is seeing explosive global growth.
Associated Press
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
The Top NSFW Character AI Alternative for AI Roleplay 2025
LOS ANGELES, March 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- a platform established in the AI chat companion industry, announces the release of a new NSFW Character AI feature. This update focuses on enhancing user experience by delivering more personalized and immersive roleplay interactions. With advanced AI models integrated, the feature improves customization options and lifelike communication. Positioned as a strong alternative to Character AI, this launch highlights efforts to set higher standards for AI roleplay in 2025. More AI Models for Better AI Roleplay One of coolest features is how accessible it is. Unlike other platforms that make you pay for their best AI models, provides many top-notch features for free. These models are designed for different types of conversations: Claude 3.7 Sonnet: Great for long, vivid stories and roleplay. Grok-3: Perfect for building imaginary worlds and expressing emotions. Claude 3.5 Haiku: Ideal for short, sharp, and exciting chats. 30+ AI models: A huge variety of styles and personalities to match your preferences. With so many choices, you can easily find an AI companion that suits your unique needs and interests. Personalized AI Roleplay Just for You stands out as the best Character AI alternative because it lets you fully customize your chat companion. You can create AI characters with unique personalities and backstories, making every interaction feel fresh and exciting. Here's what makes it special: Memory recall: Your AI remembers past chats, so conversations feel consistent, like a real friend. Emotionally adaptive responses: The AI adjusts its tone and responses based on the mood of the conversation. Deep customization: You can design your AI companion exactly how you want. Fast and Smooth Performance is built to work quickly and efficiently, ensuring natural and smooth conversations: Quick responses: The AI replies in just 2–4 seconds for uninterrupted chatting. Smart neural networks: Makes conversations feel natural and logical. Stable system: Handles large numbers of users without slowing down. Your Privacy Comes First As AI companions become more popular, privacy is a big concern. takes security seriously and has strong measures to protect users: End-to-end encryption: Keeps your chats private. Anonymous chats: Your identity stays protected. Auto-delete feature: Deletes sensitive data to keep you safe. Strict moderation: Ensures a secure and respectful environment. With these features, you can enjoy your AI companion without worrying about your privacy. The Future of AI Companions isn't just another chatbot—it's a game-changer in AI companionship. By combining advanced technology with storytelling, fantasy, and emotional connection, it shows what's possible for virtual companions. Whether you want simple chats, creative storytelling, or deeper emotional bonds, sets the standard for what an AI friend can be. As AI companionship becomes even more popular in 2025, leads the way with the smartest, safest, and most personalized chat experiences.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Elon Musk's xAI startup just bought X for $45 billion
Elon Musk said on Friday that his xAI has acquired X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter, in an all-stock transaction for $45 billion, including $12 billion in debt. 'The truth is even more bizarre than you think': The Hawk Tuah girl is getting her own documentary Here's what happens to your student loan if the Department of Education disappears We asked the world's most creative people how they're using AI. This is what they said 'xAI and X's futures are intertwined. Today, we officially take the step to combine the data, models, compute, distribution and talent,' Musk said in a post on X, adding that the combined company would be valued at $80 billion. Neither X nor xAI immediately responded to a request for comment. The billionaire's AI startup, which was launched in 2023, recently raised $6 billion from investors in a funding round that valued the company at $40 billion, sources told Reuters earlier. Musk in February made a $97.4 billion bid with a consortium for the ChatGPT maker OpenAI, which was rejected, with OpenAI saying that the startup was not for sale. As competition in AI intensifies, xAI has been ramping up its data center capacity to train more advanced models, and its supercomputer cluster in Memphis, called 'Colossus,' is touted as the largest in the world. xAI introduced Grok-3, the latest iteration of its chatbot, in February, as it tries to compete with Chinese AI firm DeepSeek and Microsoft-backed OpenAI. Musk clinched a deal in 2022 to buy X for $44 billion, ending its run as a public company since its 2013 initial public offering, declaring that 'the bird is freed' once the acquisition closed. Reporting by Seher Dareen in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai and Sandra Maler This post originally appeared at to get the Fast Company newsletter: Sign in to access your portfolio
Dubai Eye
30-03-2025
- Business
- Dubai Eye
Musk's social media firm X bought by his AI company, valued at $33 billion
Elon Musk's xAI has acquired X in a deal that values the social media platform at $33 billion and allows the value of his artificial intelligence firm to be shared with his co-investors in the company formerly known as Twitter. The deal could also help xAI's ability to train its chatbot known as Grok. "xAI and X's futures are intertwined," Musk, who also heads automaker Tesla and SpaceX, wrote in a post on X: "Today, we officially take the step to combine the data, models, compute, distribution and talent." He said the combination values "xAI at $80 billion and X at $33 billion ($45B less $12B debt)". Representatives for X and xAI did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Much of the deal's specifics remain unclear, such as how X's leaders would be integrated in the new firm or whether there would be regulatory scrutiny. Musk, the world's wealthiest man, is also a close ally of US President Donald Trump and heads the Department of Government Efficiency. An investor in xAI who declined to be identified said they were not surprised by the deal, viewing it as Musk consolidating his leadership and management at his own companies. Musk did not ask investors for approval but told them that the two companies had been collaborating closely and the deal would drive deeper integration with Grok, the investor said. OPENAI RIVALRY Musk's xAI startup was launched less than two years ago and recently raised $10 billion in a funding round that valued the company at $75 billion, according to a media report. It competes with the likes of Microsoft-backed OpenAI as well as with Chinese startup DeepSeek. In February, Musk, 53, made a $97.4 billion bid with a consortium for OpenAI, which was rejected and he has sued to prevent the ChatGPT maker from converting from a non-profit to a for-profit business. A judge this month denied Musk's request for a preliminary injunction that would prevent the changeover. As competition in AI intensifies, xAI has been ramping up its data center capacity to train more advanced models, and its supercomputer cluster in Memphis, Tennessee, called "Colossus," is touted as the largest in the world. xAI introduced Grok-3, the latest iteration of its chatbot, in February. The X platform could serve to further distribute xAI products, while also providing a real-time feed of users' musings, screenshots and other data. After buying Twitter, Musk gutted the company's workforce, prompting advertisers to flee the platform and a rapid decline in revenue. Recently, brands have been returning to X as Musk's influence in the Trump administration grows. The seven banks that extended $13 billion in loans to Musk to buy X kept the debt on their books for two years until they were able to sell it all at once last month, according to a source familiar with the transactions. This was made possible after a surge in investor interest for exposure to AI companies along with X's improved operating performance over the previous two quarters, among other factors, according to two people familiar with the matter. After the merger, investors who bought the debt from the banks will profit, said Espen Robak, founder of Pluris Valuation Advisors, which specialises in illiquid assets. "For sure the debt is worth more now, if not fully paid off." Separately, a US judge on Friday rejected a bid by Musk to dismiss a lawsuit claiming he had defrauded former Twitter shareholders by waiting too long to disclose his initial investment in the company.
ARN News Center
29-03-2025
- Business
- ARN News Center
Musk's social media firm X bought by his AI company, valued at $33 billion
Elon Musk's xAI has acquired X in a deal that values the social media platform at $33 billion and allows the value of his artificial intelligence firm to be shared with his co-investors in the company formerly known as Twitter. The deal could also help xAI's ability to train its chatbot known as Grok. "xAI and X's futures are intertwined," Musk, who also heads automaker Tesla and SpaceX, wrote in a post on X: "Today, we officially take the step to combine the data, models, compute, distribution and talent." He said the combination values "xAI at $80 billion and X at $33 billion ($45B less $12B debt)". Representatives for X and xAI did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Much of the deal's specifics remain unclear, such as how X's leaders would be integrated in the new firm or whether there would be regulatory scrutiny. Musk, the world's wealthiest man, is also a close ally of US President Donald Trump and heads the Department of Government Efficiency. An investor in xAI who declined to be identified said they were not surprised by the deal, viewing it as Musk consolidating his leadership and management at his own companies. Musk did not ask investors for approval but told them that the two companies had been collaborating closely and the deal would drive deeper integration with Grok, the investor said. OPENAI RIVALRY Musk's xAI startup was launched less than two years ago and recently raised $10 billion in a funding round that valued the company at $75 billion, according to a media report. It competes with the likes of Microsoft-backed OpenAI as well as with Chinese startup DeepSeek. In February, Musk, 53, made a $97.4 billion bid with a consortium for OpenAI, which was rejected and he has sued to prevent the ChatGPT maker from converting from a non-profit to a for-profit business. A judge this month denied Musk's request for a preliminary injunction that would prevent the changeover. As competition in AI intensifies, xAI has been ramping up its data center capacity to train more advanced models, and its supercomputer cluster in Memphis, Tennessee, called "Colossus," is touted as the largest in the world. xAI introduced Grok-3, the latest iteration of its chatbot, in February. The X platform could serve to further distribute xAI products, while also providing a real-time feed of users' musings, screenshots and other data. After buying Twitter, Musk gutted the company's workforce, prompting advertisers to flee the platform and a rapid decline in revenue. Recently, brands have been returning to X as Musk's influence in the Trump administration grows. The seven banks that extended $13 billion in loans to Musk to buy X kept the debt on their books for two years until they were able to sell it all at once last month, according to a source familiar with the transactions. This was made possible after a surge in investor interest for exposure to AI companies along with X's improved operating performance over the previous two quarters, among other factors, according to two people familiar with the matter. After the merger, investors who bought the debt from the banks will profit, said Espen Robak, founder of Pluris Valuation Advisors, which specialises in illiquid assets. "For sure the debt is worth more now, if not fully paid off." Separately, a US judge on Friday rejected a bid by Musk to dismiss a lawsuit claiming he had defrauded former Twitter shareholders by waiting too long to disclose his initial investment in the company.
