Grok Vision: Musk’s AI chatbot gets camera functions and challenges ChatGPT

Elon Musk’s xAI is equipping its Grok chatbot with camera functions, positioning it as a direct competitor to Google Gemini and ChatGPT. The new Grok Vision enables users to analyze objects, texts and environments using smartphone cameras and receive immediate explanations.

Launched in April 2025, the feature is currently available for iOS users, while Android users need a paid SuperGrok subscription for 30 dollars per month. The integration enables practical applications such as the translation of foreign-language signs, product identification or the analysis of complex diagrams. Multilingual audio functions and real-time search functions in voice mode have also been introduced.

Technical basics and areas of application

Grok Vision uses advanced computer vision algorithms that have been trained on extensive data sets. The system processes image pixels through a modified transformer architecture that combines visual elements with linguistic representations. This technology enables the recognition of text in handwritten notes, the differentiation of materials in clothing photos and the identification of cultural landmarks with historical context.

Applications are particularly promising in healthcare, where Grok Vision can be used to analyze skin lesions, and in retail for inventory management and augmented reality shopping experiences. In education, teachers are already using the feature to create interactive teaching materials by scanning textbook diagrams and converting them into 3D models or simulations.

Data protection concerns and competitive comparison

Grok Vision’s “Always-On Camera” feature raises privacy issues. xAI retains images for 30 days for model enhancement according to its privacy policy, which can be problematic if personal documents are accidentally captured. The delayed introduction in the EU reflects the stricter GDPR requirements.

In contrast to OpenAI’s stringent protections, Grok uses minimal NSFW filters, which Musk defends as “maximally truthful.” This design decision allows for controversial use cases such as meme creation from protest recordings, which raises concerns about the amplification of misinformation.

Summary

• xAI has introduced Grok Vision, a feature that allows the chatbot to analyze and interpret images
• The feature is available for iOS users, Android users need a SuperGrok subscription for 30 dollars per month
• Grok Vision uses computer vision algorithms for text recognition, material identification and cultural contextualization
• Applications include healthcare, retail and education
• Feature raises privacy concerns as images are stored for 30 days
• Compared to competitors such as ChatGPT and Gemini, Grok relies on less stringent content filters

Source: TechChrunch