Grok Unveils AI Companions You Can Connect With—Including a Goth Girl

Elon Musk’s AI chatbot, Grok, is venturing beyond simple information and task assistance. The platform is adopting an element present in AI services more dedicated to roleplay or story construction, such as Character.ai. Grok‘s latest update introduces AI Companions, designed for more engaging and personalized interactions that reportedly can even lead to a form of digital relationship, including a gothic anime girl.

These AI Companions aren’t your typical chatbots. They come with distinct personalities and visual avatars, currently being available a “Goth Girl” and a 3D anthropomorphic fox. They basically embrace popular aesthetics like anime or fantasy. The aim is to offer users a sense of digital companionship through more casual and personal conversations. The developers hint at the possibility of developing a “relationship” with these AI beings.

Grok’s new AI-powered companions with their own personality

This move signifies a departure from purely utilitarian AI. xAI is now pushing Grok into the realm of emotional AI interactions. Users can now engage in potentially intimate conversations with these AI companions.

Reactions to this new feature have been diverse. Some are intrigued by the novel experience, while others raise ethical concerns about forming relationships with AI. The visual style of certain companions has also drawn online attention. However, Character.ai users will probably find the experience quite familiar.

Developed by Musk’s xAI, Grok has often presented itself as a more unfiltered AI. The introduction of AI companions with distinct personalities, including romantic possibilities, aligns with this brand. However, it also adds complexity to the ongoing discussion about AI ethics and the potential impact of such interactions. Character.ai itself has already been embroiled in controversies—and lawsuits—because of this.

It’s noteworthy that these new AI personas aren’t available to free users. If you want to try Grok’s AI Companions, you’ll have to pay at least $30 per month. The new feature represents an interesting—and perhaps controversial—approach in the competitive AI chatbot market. It remains to be seen how users will engage with it and what the broader implications of AI designed for companionship will be.