Tired of ads? Enjoy an ad-free experience by signing up.
👩‍🍳 How we use AI at Tech in Asia, thoughtfully and responsibly.
🧔‍♂️ A friendly human may check it before it goes live. More news here

Musk’s xAI debuts Grok 4

Elon Musk’s AI startup, xAI, unveiled its latest model, Grok 4, during a livestream on July 9, 2025 night.

Grok 4 was described as an advanced AI assistant.

xAI employees discussed its performance on “Humanity’s Last Exam,” which includes over 2,500 questions from various subjects.

The company reported that Grok 4 answered approximately 25% of text-based questions without using additional tools.

This result aligns with earlier benchmarks set by OpenAI.

🔗 Source: The Verge


🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Musk’s unique journey from AI skeptic to AI developer shows his complex relationship with the technology

Elon Musk’s current position as the leader of xAI marks a significant evolution in his relationship with artificial intelligence, which has historically been characterized by public warnings about its dangers.

In 2015, Musk co-founded OpenAI as a non-profit organization specifically to ensure safe AI development, expressing concerns about the technology’s potential risks to humanity 1.

His cautionary stance continued for years, with Musk publicly comparing AI’s dangers to those of nuclear weapons and advocating for regulatory oversight to prevent potential harm 2.

Despite these warnings, Musk has simultaneously deepened his involvement in AI development, first through investments in companies like Vicarious 2, then through Tesla’s autonomous driving technology, and now with xAI and Grok.

This apparent contradiction was visible in Wednesday’s livestream when Musk acknowledged being “at times kind of worried” about superintelligent AI while simultaneously promoting Grok 4 as “the smartest AI in the world.”

The tension in Musk’s approach reflects the broader challenge facing the industry: balancing rapid innovation with responsible development and ethical safeguards.

2️⃣ Benchmark battles becoming the new frontier in AI competition

The emphasis on Grok 4’s performance on “Humanity’s Last Exam” highlights how benchmark testing has become a crucial battleground for AI companies seeking to demonstrate superiority.

Recent xAI developments

Stay ahead in Asia’s tech landscape

You've reached your 2 free content limit for the month. Sign up for free to read the full story.

🏄 For casual readers / 👶 Free

Basic

US$0

Free forever

Get instant access to this article and more every month

0 premium content

Unlimited news briefs

5

5 articles

Ad-free reading experience

Just US$0 per day

⌛Sign up in 20s. No payment details needed.

📖 For learners / 👍 Starter

Lite

US$4.92/month

Billed annually at US$59/year

Get instant access to this article and more every month

4

4 premium content

Unlimited news briefs & articles

Ad-free reading experience

Just US$0.17 per day

Cancel anytime

Our subscriber community includes professionals from these companies:

Stay updated on the go with our mobile app.

Get latest insights with smoother, more personalized experience through TIA mobile app.