xAI Adds Voice Upgrades at $30/month
xAI has just introduced a new feature to its Grok chatbot called Grok Vision. The update lets users point their iPhone cameras at objects and get answers in real-time. This new vision ability is part of the company’s growing effort to keep pace with rivals like Google’s Gemini and OpenAI’s ChatGPT. But there’s a catch — Grok Vision is currently available only on the iOS app. Android users will have to wait a bit longer.
Available Only for SuperGrok Users at $30/month
The new features, including Grok Vision, are exclusive to subscribers of xAI’s SuperGrok plan, which costs $30 per month. This puts it on par with similar offerings from other AI platforms but still raises questions about accessibility. For now, if you’re not paying for Grok, you’re missing out on its latest abilities.
What Does Grok Vision Actually Do?
Users can now use their camera to scan objects like products in stores, signs, or even pages in a book and ask Grok questions about what it sees. For example, you could point your phone at a medicine label and ask what it does. It makes the AI feel a bit more aware of your surroundings. While this is a step forward, the fact that it’s limited to iOS might leave Android users frustrated.
More Features for Voice and Memory
Alongside Grok Vision, xAI has added multilingual audio and real-time search in voice mode. These tools are now available for Android users too—but again, only if they’re on the SuperGrok plan. These updates allow Grok to speak multiple languages and respond more quickly during voice conversations, which adds more utility for global users.
Earlier this month, Grok also received a memory upgrade. This allows it to remember key details from past conversations, which is useful for users who engage frequently with the chatbot. In addition, xAI has added a canvas-like tool to Grok that helps in creating documents and simple apps. These tools aim to give users more creative control, though they may feel more experimental than polished right now.
Still Room for Improvement
While xAI is clearly working fast to add value to Grok, some gaps remain. The biggest issue is platform parity. Android users, despite being a large segment, still don’t get access to features like Grok Vision. And at $30 per month, many users might think twice before subscribing, especially when similar AI tools offer basic visual input at no cost.
The features also require users to download and interact with the separate Grok app rather than being integrated more seamlessly into a device’s core functions. This might limit casual use or on-the-go access.
The Bottom Line
xAI’s new Grok Vision makes the chatbot smarter by letting it “see” through your iPhone camera. It’s a clear step toward making AI more interactive and helpful in everyday life. But it comes with a price tag and a few limitations, especially for Android users. The added voice and memory tools show xAI’s ambition, but it will need to bridge the iOS-Android gap quickly if it wants to reach a broader audience.
As AI tools like Grok become more common, users will likely expect real-time, camera-based features as standard — not as part of an expensive upgrade. For now, Grok Vision is promising, but not yet fully available to all.
