# Get started with Grok: ask about what's happening now

> Open Grok on the web or in X, ask a first question, and use its live search to get current answers with sources you can check.

Level: Beginner
Tool: Grok
Category: Getting started
Time: About 10 minutes
Checked: 2026-10-15
Tools: [Grok](https://grok.com)
HTML page: https://easyaihowtos.com/guides/get-started-with-grok

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.

## What you need

- A web browser, the Grok app, or the X app
- An account to sign in (an X account works, and other sign-in options are shown on the page)
- A question about something recent, such as news, a product launch, or an event

## Steps

### 1. 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.

### 2. 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."

### 3. 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:

```
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.
```

### 4. 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.

### 5. 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.

## FAQ

### 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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This guide is from Easy AI How-To (https://easyaihowtos.com). It is independent of the tools named above. Screens and free-plan limits change, so check the date before you rely on a button name.