Grok Beta (reasoning)

xAI's cutting-edge, highly intelligent beta model

Grok Beta (reasoning)

Grok Beta, from xAI, is a highly intelligent, large context window model currently offered at an exceptionally competitive price point during its beta phase.

ReasoningHigh Intelligence128k ContextBeta ProgramZero Cost (Beta)Proprietary

Grok Beta represents xAI's ambitious entry into the frontier of artificial intelligence, showcasing a model designed for advanced reasoning and extensive contextual understanding. Positioned as a leading contender in intelligence benchmarks, Grok Beta has achieved a remarkable score of 23 on the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index, significantly surpassing the average performance of comparable models. This places it among the top echelons for cognitive capabilities, making it a powerful tool for complex analytical tasks, nuanced content generation, and sophisticated problem-solving.

A standout feature of Grok Beta during its current phase is its unprecedented pricing structure: effectively zero cost for both input and output tokens. This aggressive strategy not only positions it as the most economically accessible high-intelligence model on the market but also underscores xAI's commitment to broad accessibility for beta testers. While this pricing is characteristic of a beta offering and is subject to change upon general release, it currently provides an unparalleled opportunity for developers and researchers to experiment with a state-of-the-art model without incurring direct API costs.

The model boasts a substantial 128,000-token context window, enabling it to process and generate extensive documents, maintain long-form conversations, and synthesize information from vast amounts of text. This large context capacity, combined with its knowledge cutoff extending to February 2024, ensures that Grok Beta is equipped with relatively up-to-date information and the ability to handle intricate, multi-turn interactions or detailed data analysis tasks. Its proprietary nature means that while the underlying architecture and weights are not publicly disclosed, xAI maintains full control over its development and deployment, promising continuous improvements and refinements.

Despite its impressive intelligence and generous context window, specific performance metrics such as output speed, latency, and verbosity are currently not publicly available or are still under evaluation. This is common for models in active beta development, where the focus is often on refining core capabilities and stability before optimizing for raw throughput. Users should anticipate that these metrics will evolve as Grok Beta matures towards a full release, potentially impacting its suitability for highly latency-sensitive or extremely high-volume applications in the interim.

Overall, Grok Beta emerges as a compelling option for those seeking to leverage advanced AI capabilities for demanding tasks. Its high intelligence, expansive context, and current zero-cost access make it an attractive proposition for innovation and exploration, provided users are mindful of its beta status and the potential for future changes in pricing and performance characteristics.

Scoreboard

Intelligence

23 (#21 / 93)

Grok Beta scores 23 on the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index, placing it well above average among comparable models (averaging 15).
Output speed

N/A Unknown

Output speed metrics are not publicly available for Grok Beta at this time, typical for a model in active beta development.
Input price

$0.00 USD per 1M tokens

Effectively free during its beta phase, making it the most competitively priced high-intelligence model available.
Output price

$0.00 USD per 1M tokens

Output tokens are also free, offering an unparalleled opportunity for cost-free experimentation and development.
Verbosity signal

N/A Unknown

Verbosity metrics are not publicly available, as is common for models undergoing active beta testing and refinement.
Provider latency

N/A Unknown

Latency metrics are not yet disclosed, which is expected for a beta model where performance optimization is ongoing.

Technical specifications

Spec Details
Owner xAI
License Proprietary
Context Window 128,000 tokens
Knowledge Cutoff February 2024
Intelligence Index Score 23 (Rank #21/93)
Input Price (Beta) $0.00 per 1M tokens
Output Price (Beta) $0.00 per 1M tokens
Model Status Beta (Grok-2 Beta)
Availability Currently via xAI's beta program
Reasoning Capabilities High (4 out of 4 units)
Speed Metrics Not Publicly Available
Verbosity Metrics Not Publicly Available

What stands out beyond the scoreboard

Where this model wins
  • Unmatched Intelligence: Scores 23 on the Intelligence Index, placing it among the top models for complex reasoning and problem-solving.
  • Zero-Cost Access (Beta): Currently available at $0.00 per 1M tokens for both input and output, offering unparalleled economic accessibility.
  • Massive Context Window: A 128k token context allows for processing and generating extremely long documents and maintaining deep, multi-turn conversations.
  • Up-to-Date Knowledge: Incorporates knowledge up to February 2024, ensuring relevance for contemporary topics.
  • Advanced Reasoning: Excels in tasks requiring sophisticated understanding and logical deduction, making it ideal for analytical applications.
Where costs sneak up
  • Future Pricing Uncertainty: The current $0.00 price is for beta; commercial pricing upon general release is unknown and will likely be significantly higher.
  • Limited Availability: Access is currently restricted to xAI's beta program, potentially limiting broader adoption or integration.
  • Performance Variability: As a beta model, performance metrics like speed and latency are not guaranteed and may fluctuate or be less optimized than mature models.
  • Proprietary Lock-in: Being proprietary, users are fully dependent on xAI for updates, support, and future model availability.
  • Integration Overhead: While the API cost is zero, integrating a new beta model into existing workflows still incurs development and testing costs.

Provider pick

Given Grok Beta's current status as a proprietary model in an exclusive beta program, the primary and effectively sole provider is xAI itself. The following recommendations are framed around leveraging this direct access for various use cases, acknowledging that third-party API providers are not yet a factor.

Priority Pick Why Tradeoff to accept
Primary Access xAI Direct (Beta Program) For all current use cases, direct access through xAI's beta program is the only viable option. This provides the earliest access to Grok Beta's capabilities. Requires application and acceptance into the beta program; future commercial terms are unknown.
Research & Development xAI Direct (Beta Program) Ideal for academic research, proof-of-concept development, and exploring frontier AI capabilities without immediate cost constraints. Focus is on model evaluation and feedback, not guaranteed production stability or SLA.
Advanced Content Creation xAI Direct (Beta Program) Leverage the high intelligence and large context window for generating complex articles, detailed reports, or creative narratives. Potential for rate limits or usage caps typical of beta programs, which could impact high-volume generation.
Complex Data Analysis xAI Direct (Beta Program) Utilize Grok Beta's reasoning abilities to extract insights, summarize large datasets, or identify patterns from extensive text inputs. Requires robust data handling on the user's side, as the model itself is still in beta.
Early Integration Testing xAI Direct (Beta Program) For developers looking to understand how Grok Beta could fit into future applications, testing integration points and API calls. API stability and feature set may evolve rapidly, requiring frequent updates to integrations.

Note: As Grok Beta is currently in an exclusive beta phase, all provider picks refer to direct access through xAI's official beta program. Third-party providers are not yet available.

Real workloads cost table

Understanding the cost implications of Grok Beta is straightforward during its beta phase, as all API calls are currently free. However, it's crucial to consider the *potential* costs once the model moves to a commercial offering. For now, the focus is on the scale of operations possible without direct API expenditure.

Scenario Input Output What it represents Estimated cost
Scenario Input Output What it represents Estimated cost
Comprehensive Research Report Generation 100,000 tokens (e.g., multiple research papers) 20,000 tokens (e.g., executive summary, key findings) Synthesizing vast information into a detailed, coherent report. $0.00
Long-form Content Creation 50,000 tokens (e.g., detailed brief, outline) 50,000 tokens (e.g., blog post, article series) Generating extensive, high-quality textual content based on detailed instructions. $0.00
Code Generation & Refinement 30,000 tokens (e.g., complex problem description, existing codebase) 15,000 tokens (e.g., new function, bug fix, code review) Assisting developers with coding tasks, from initial generation to debugging. $0.00
Customer Support Bot (Advanced) 5,000 tokens (per interaction, e.g., detailed query history) 2,000 tokens (per interaction, e.g., comprehensive answer) Handling complex customer inquiries requiring deep context and reasoning. (1000 interactions) $0.00
Legal Document Analysis 120,000 tokens (e.g., contract, legal brief) 10,000 tokens (e.g., summary of key clauses, risk assessment) Analyzing lengthy legal texts for critical information and implications. $0.00
Educational Content Development 70,000 tokens (e.g., curriculum, learning objectives) 30,000 tokens (e.g., lesson plans, quiz questions) Creating structured educational materials with high contextual relevance. $0.00

During its beta phase, Grok Beta offers an unprecedented opportunity to execute highly demanding, large-scale AI workloads without incurring direct API costs. This allows for extensive experimentation and development, though users should plan for potential future costs once the model transitions to a commercial offering.

How to control cost (a practical playbook)

While Grok Beta is currently free, a strategic approach is still vital to maximize its utility and prepare for future commercialization. The following playbook focuses on leveraging its unique beta advantages and mitigating future cost risks.

Maximize Beta Exploration

Given the zero-cost nature of Grok Beta during its current phase, this is the ideal time to push its boundaries. Experiment with diverse and demanding use cases that might be cost-prohibitive with other models.

  • Test Edge Cases: Explore its performance on highly complex, ambiguous, or niche tasks to understand its true capabilities and limitations.
  • Develop Prototypes: Build and iterate on applications that leverage its high intelligence and large context window without worrying about API expenses.
  • Gather Extensive Data: Use the beta period to collect valuable performance data, user feedback, and insights that will inform your long-term AI strategy.
Prepare for Future Commercial Pricing

The current $0.00 pricing is temporary. It's crucial to anticipate and plan for potential commercial costs once Grok Beta (or its successor) is generally released.

  • Estimate Usage: Track your token consumption during the beta to project potential costs under various pricing models (e.g., per token, per call, tiered).
  • Develop Cost-Aware Architectures: Design your applications with modularity, allowing for easy switching to other models or implementing cost-saving measures like prompt optimization.
  • Budget Allocation: Start allocating budget for future AI API costs, even if the exact figures are unknown, to avoid sticker shock later.
Optimize Prompt Engineering for Efficiency

Even with free access, efficient prompt engineering is a good practice that will pay dividends when costs are introduced. It also improves model performance.

  • Concise Instructions: Craft prompts that are clear, direct, and avoid unnecessary verbosity to minimize input token count.
  • Structured Output: Request specific output formats (e.g., JSON, bullet points) to reduce extraneous tokens and simplify parsing.
  • Iterative Refinement: Continuously refine your prompts to achieve desired results with the fewest possible tokens, improving both cost-efficiency and response quality.
Monitor Performance & Stability

As a beta model, Grok Beta's performance characteristics (speed, latency, reliability) may evolve. Continuous monitoring is essential.

  • Establish Baselines: Record performance metrics for your key use cases during the beta to understand typical behavior.
  • Implement Fallbacks: For critical applications, consider designing fallback mechanisms to alternative models or strategies in case of beta-related instability or changes.
  • Provide Feedback: Actively engage with xAI's beta program to report issues and contribute to the model's improvement, potentially influencing its future development.
Strategic Integration Planning

While direct API costs are absent, integration still requires development effort. Plan your integration strategy carefully.

  • API Abstraction Layer: Implement an abstraction layer for your AI API calls. This makes it easier to swap out Grok Beta for another model if future pricing or performance doesn't meet your needs.
  • Focus on Core Value: Identify the specific tasks where Grok Beta's high intelligence provides unique value and prioritize integrating it there first.
  • Scalability Considerations: Design your integration to handle potential rate limits or changes in API throughput as the model matures.

FAQ

What is Grok Beta?

Grok Beta is an advanced, proprietary large language model developed by xAI. It is currently in a beta testing phase, offering high intelligence and a large context window, primarily for reasoning and complex task execution.

How intelligent is Grok Beta?

Grok Beta scores 23 on the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index, placing it significantly above average among comparable models and ranking it #21 out of 93 models benchmarked. It excels in reasoning capabilities.

What is the cost of using Grok Beta?

During its current beta phase, Grok Beta is offered at $0.00 per 1 million input tokens and $0.00 per 1 million output tokens, making it effectively free to use for beta participants. This pricing is subject to change upon general release.

What is Grok Beta's context window size?

Grok Beta features a substantial 128,000-token context window, allowing it to process and generate very long texts, maintain extended conversations, and handle complex, multi-part queries.

What is Grok Beta's knowledge cutoff?

The model's knowledge extends up to February 2024, providing it with relatively current information for a wide range of topics.

Is Grok Beta suitable for production applications?

As a beta model, Grok Beta is primarily intended for testing, development, and exploration. While powerful, its stability, performance metrics (like speed and latency), and future pricing are still subject to change, which may impact its suitability for critical production environments without careful planning and fallback strategies.

How can I access Grok Beta?

Access to Grok Beta is currently available through xAI's official beta program. Interested users typically need to apply and be accepted into the program to gain API access.


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