Get started with Grok: ask about what's happening now
Grok is the AI assistant from xAI, and it is built into X. Its strength is current events: it can search the web and public X posts while it answers. This guide shows how to use that safely.
- Time
- About 10 minutes
- Checked
- Tool
- Grok
If a button name on the screen does not match this guide, follow the action. These products rename buttons often.
Steps
Open Grok
Go to grok.com or open the Grok app. If you use X, you can also tap the Grok icon in the X app. Sign in when asked.
Ask a normal question first
Type a question the way you would ask a friend and press Enter. For example: "Explain what an index fund is in three sentences."
Ask about something recent
Grok can search the web and public posts on X for current information. Say the time window you care about so it looks for fresh sources.
Prompt to paste
What happened with [topic or event] in the last [3 days]? Give me 5 short bullet points and list the sources you used with links.
Open the sources
Click two or three of the links Grok lists. Make sure they really say what Grok claims, and note the dates. Posts on X can be opinions or rumors, not facts.
Follow up in the same chat
Ask "Which of these points are confirmed by official sources?" or "What is still uncertain?" Grok uses the earlier messages in the chat as context.
Tips
For fast-moving news, ask Grok to separate confirmed facts from what people are saying.
Free use has limits that change over time. Paid X or Grok plans raise them.
Don't share private information about yourself or others in a chat.
Common questions
Do I need an X account?
Not always. grok.com offers several sign-in options. Using Grok inside the X app needs an X account.
How is Grok different from other chatbots?
Its standout feature is live access to public posts on X along with the web, which helps with "what's happening right now" questions.
Can I trust what it finds on X?
Treat posts as leads, not proof. Check important claims against a news outlet or an official source.
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