Grok, the ai tool from x and its polarizing owner, Elon Musk, offers similar teaching opportunities to other popular generative ai tools, but it also has some unique features and benefits that set it apart.
I began exploring using Grok for various educational purposes after a recent discussion during which my editor and I realized it was one of the only notable ai tools we hadn't covered. He had been avoiding Grok due to general ai fatigue and Musk's trollish behavior online. However, in the end I was impressed by the ai and its capabilities.
For the most part, Grok works like a standard ai tool, but its response was noticeably faster than others I've used. It is supposedly inspired by The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and designed to be fun; I didn't find anything that I would classify as comedy, but the tool had a less formal and more conversational tone than other ai chatbots I've interacted with.
Finally, and most importantly, Grok can search x (formerly twitter) and the Internet and therefore has access to up-to-date information, which can provide some advantages in teaching but also make it more difficult for students to cheat.
All that said, Grok, like other ai chatbots, did suffer from hallucinations at times and, in my experience, wasn't much of a cut above other models.
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Teaching with Grok
Many teachers are already familiar with different ways in which artificial intelligence tools can be used to assist with teaching tasks. You can use ai to help generate quizzes, create outlines for presentations, generate ideas, etc.
Grok performs all of these tasks, as well as other ai tools I've experimented with, and possibly a little better than most thanks to his speed and more natural/conversational-style voice. However, what really sets Grok apart from other ai options is the ability to search the Internet and x in real time.
For example, Grok was able to adequately answer questions about a recent soccer game. Accurately summarized the final score and several points of the game. While a sports score may not be important to your class, access to real-time information is. Want to talk about the latest natural disaster or Google's recent advances in quantum computing? Grok does a very good job of summarizing these themes. What's more, Grok is great at sharing links to the information he provides if you want to verify something.
Of course, as with all ai technology, every professional tends to have a disadvantage. Grok's ability to access the Internet makes it much more difficult as a teacher to create ai-proof assignments. One way I can frequently Detect if a student is using ai to write their assignments is whether your writings about recent events don't make sense. Grok is too “smart” for this.
Provide quotes and teach through conversation
As mentioned, one of Grok's great features is its ability to quickly direct you to sources. Sometimes I had to ask him what the specific source of information was, other times he would automatically provide it to me.
Grok can also search for specific types of links that you may want as a teacher. For example, I asked him to look for stories written with the “inverted pyramid,” a narrative structure often used for news, and he provided several examples instantly. This can be useful for many teaching situations.
Some ai enthusiasts have spoken glowingly about the ways in which ai conversations help you learn about a topic. I haven't found that to be the case, but Grok came closer to being useful in this way than other AIs I've tried to use as a tutor.
For example, because it generates responses faster, I spent more time discussing new topics I was trying to learn with Grok. These included a discussion of a physics concept in quantum mechanics that I have trouble visualizing. Grok's answers weren't the same as talking to a real physics tutor, but they provided context and examples I hadn't thought of. Grok also suggested watching specific YouTube videos on the topic, which was helpful.
Hallucinations and limitations
Grok is not perfect. Although less filled with misinformation than the platform on which it is hosted, Grok missed some points.
For example, I asked him to summarize a story I wrote in a Tweet thread and he made up details that weren't in the story and weren't accurate. To get an accurate description of the story's Tweet thread, I had to explain the errors and ask it to stick to the facts of the story.
How much does Grok cost?
Grok is available for free for x users but they are limited in the number of questions they can ask. They cut me off after 25 prompts in a two hour period. But access is likely to evolve over time.
If you're willing to pay, subscribers to x Premium, which costs $8 a month, get unlimited access to Grok.
Bottom line: Is Grok right for educators?
Grok was slightly better than most other ai tools I've used in terms of speed and conversation. Overall, I was also happier with their initial answers, but my speed typing skills have improved recently, so that could have been a factor as well.
One of Grok's main selling points is its ability to process recent information, but it is not unique in that or any other features.
Ultimately, I wouldn't recommend students use Grok because x has a lot of toxicity these days. I'm also not sure if Grok's slight advantages over other ai tools will influence users who don't like Musk personally and/or just don't like spending time on x.
If the speed of ai responses is a problem you encountered, or you just like experimenting with ai, I would give Grok a try. On the other hand, if you prefer to stay away from anything associated with this company, I think you can rest assured that you won't miss anything earth-shattering.
