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The social network X, under the direction of Elon Musk, has executed a new move in its monetization strategy by closing free access to one of its most viral tools. The "Ask Grok" function, which allowed any user to invoke artificial intelligence in the comments to verify data or summarize threads, has become an exclusive benefit for subscribers of the Premium and Premium+ plans.
This change marks the end of an era of free "collective verification" on the platform. Until now, it was common to find the phrase "Grok, is this true?" in controversial posts or breaking news, serving as an instant filter against misinformation. However, as of this week, users who try to use this command without paying will receive an automated message inviting them to subscribe to "unlock" the AI's response.
Elon Musk's monetization strategy for X
The decision to restrict Grok is due to the need for xAI and the platform itself to monetize the high computational cost of processing thousands of requests in real time. In addition, X seeks to curb the "spam" of profiles that used AI to gain artificial visibility in responses, taking advantage of the fact that the algorithm prioritizes content generated by the tool.
With this paywall, Elon Musk reinforces his vision of a social network where the most powerful functions -- from image creation to contextual analysis -- are reserved only for those who contribute to the economic sustainability of the ecosystem.