Tesla's New AI Chatbot, Grok, May Be Overused in Vehicles

New Teslas now come with Grok, Elon Musk's AI chatbot. While AI is already present in most cars, Grok's potential lies in enhancing driver interaction, mirroring features seen in Chinese cars. However, its overuse and lack of interaction with the car are drawbacks. The AI tool is currently inactive, which is unfortunate, but its future potential remains to be seen.

Tesla has introduced Grok, an in-car conversational AI assistant, to its new vehicle models starting July 12, 2025. This marks a significant step in integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into Tesla's consumer product lineup, offering drivers a hands-free chat-style companion while on the road.

Grok is pre-installed on new vehicles delivered on or after July 12, 2025, and owners of older vehicles may gain access through an over-the-air update, provided their vehicle meets specific hardware and software requirements. Compatible models include the Model S, Model 3, Model X, Model Y, and Cybertruck. A Premium Connectivity subscription or active Wi-Fi connection is also required.

To activate and use Grok, drivers can tap the App Launcher and select Grok or press and hold the voice command button on the steering wheel. The AI assistant is designed to answer questions and engage in conversations using natural language, with responses tailored to its chosen personality, ranging from "Storyteller" to the more eccentric "Unhinged."

However, Grok currently cannot issue commands to the vehicle itself. Traditional voice commands for tasks like climate control, navigation, or media remain separate from Grok. The feature is being released in Beta and does not require a Grok account or xAI subscription to activate.

Tesla emphasizes that interactions with Grok are securely processed by xAI and not linked to a user’s Tesla account or vehicle. Conversations remain anonymous unless a user signs into Grok separately to sync their history across devices.

While Grok enhances driver interaction, mirroring features seen in Chinese cars, its overuse and lack of interaction with the car are potential drawbacks. The AI tool is currently inactive, which is unfortunate, but its future potential remains to be seen.

References:
[1] https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-debuts-grok-ai-update-2025-26-what-you-need-to-know/