Key takeaways

  • Elon Musk’s Grok 3 takes on OpenAI’s GPT-4o with enhanced reasoning, real-time web search and a massive 1M token input window.
  • Grok 3 introduces powerful reasoning modes, enabling step-by-step transparency and deeper problem-solving.
  • With more than 200 million weekly users, GPT-4o dominates enterprise adoption, multimodal AI and creative applications.
  • Grok 3 excels in research and analytics, while GPT-4o remains the gold standard for AI-driven productivity and user experience.

Grok 3 was dropped bx xAI in February 2025, and the AI world is buzzing. How does it stack up against OpenAI’s powerhouse, GPT-4o? Both models represent significant advancements in AI technology, but how do they compare?

Let’s explore the contenders by diving into the features, capabilities and distinctions of these two AI powerhouses.

Elon Musk’s Grok 3: A new contender in the AI models’ arena

Launched in February 2025 by xAI, Grok 3 represents a massive leap forward in artificial intelligence, boasting 10 times the computing power of its predecessor, Grok 2. 

Grok 3 is designed to push the boundaries of reasoning, problem-solving and real-time information retrieval. Unlike conventional chatbots that rely heavily on pre-trained data sets, Grok 3 integrates live web search, advanced computation and deeper analytical capabilities, making it a powerful tool for researchers, developers and decision-makers.

Designed to be “scary smart,” as Elon Musk put it (in a video conference at the World Government Summit in Dubai), Grok 3 challenges the dominance of existing AI models like OpenAI’s GPT-4o and Anthropic’s Claude by focusing on enhanced reasoning, factual accuracy, and deeper web integration.

What makes Grok 3 stand out? Let’s break it down.

Built on a supercomputer with 200,000 Nvidia H100 GPUs, Grok 3 excels in business automation, real-time data analysis and problem-solving with features like Big Brain and DeepSearch. Some key features of Grok 3 are:

1. Advanced reasoning modes: Grok 3 introduces two distinct reasoning modes:

  • Think mode: This mode allows users to observe the AI's step-by-step reasoning process, enhancing transparency and understanding.
  • Big Brain mode: Designed for tackling complex tasks, this mode enables Grok 3 to break down intricate problems and fact-check its outputs, aiming for more accurate results.

2. DeepSearch integration: xAI has introduced DeepSearch, a feature that gives Grok 3 the ability to conduct real-time research, making it a powerful tool for journalists, analysts and knowledge workers. Unlike traditional AI chatbots that rely on pre-trained data, DeepSearch allows Grok 3 to pull up-to-date, relevant information from the web. 

For example, if you ask, “What are the latest advancements in blockchain technology?”

A standard AI might rely on older data from its training set. Grok 3’s DeepSearch allows users to browse the web, retrieve live scientific articles, and summarize key findings in real-time.

This table highlights the significant advancements Grok 3 brings over its predecessor, Grok-2, particularly in computing power, context handling and multimodal support.

Grok 2 vs. Grok 3 - Key differences

Did you know? Grok 3 was trained on xAI’s Colossus supercluster with 10 times the computing power of previous models, delivering strong performance across benchmarks. 

How to access Grok 3?

Whether you're chatting on X, exploring the web interface, or building with the API, the best experience awaits — just make sure to check your regional availability for Grok 3 and subscription options to unlock its full potential!

Here are the primary ways to use this advanced AI: 

  • X Platform (free or premium+): Grok 3 is integrated into the X platform. Anyone with an X account can access it for free by logging into x.com, locating the Grok icon in the sidebar, and starting a chat. X Premium+ subscribers ($40/month) get enhanced access, including higher usage limits and early features like Voice Mode. Simply upgrade your subscription via X settings to unlock these perks.
  • Grok website (grok.com): Visit grok.com, log in with your X credentials or create an account, and interact with Grok 3 directly. This standalone web interface is free for basic use, though availability may vary by region. SuperGrok subscribers, a premium tier from xAI, gain access to advanced capabilities here.
  • Mobile apps (iOS/Android): Download the Grok app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. After signing in, you can use Grok 3 on the go. iOS is fully available, while Android users may need to pre-register depending on rollout status. Free access applies, with premium options for more features.
  • API access (developers): xAI plans to release Grok 3 via its API soon. Developers can integrate it into custom applications by signing up for API access on xAI’s developer portal, ideal for enterprise or innovative projects.

OpenAI’s GPT-4o: The established leader

OpenAI's GPT-4o has been a benchmark in the AI industry, known for its versatility and robust performance across a wide range of tasks. Its ability to generate humanlike text, understand context and provide coherent responses has made it a popular choice among developers and businesses.

OpenAI also offers other AI models, including GPT-3.5 (available for free in ChatGPT), as well as GPT-4o’s API variants like o3-mini and o3-mini-high, which cater to different computational needs. While GPT-4o is freely available with usage limits, ChatGPT Plus ($20/month) and ChatGPT Pro ($200/month) users get extended access. For developers, OpenAI provides tiered pricing for API access, with higher capability limits at premium tiers.

Some key features and achievements of GPT-4o include:

  • Multimodal proficiency: Handles diverse data types, including text, audio, and images, broadening its application scope.
  • Benchmark performance: Achieved state-of-the-art results in voice, multilingual and vision benchmarks, scoring 88.7 on the Massive Multitask Language Understanding (MMLU) benchmark, surpassing GPT-4’s score of 86.5.
  • User adoption: By August 2024, ChatGPT powered by GPT-4o had reached over 200 million weekly active users, doubling its user base since November 2023.
  • Enterprise impact: A Harvard study revealed that professionals using GPT-4o experienced a 40% performance boost, completing tasks 25% faster and producing higher-quality results. This highlights GPT-4o’s effectiveness in enhancing productivity across various sectors.
  • Multilingual support: At launch, GPT-4o supported over 50 languages, covering more than 97% of global speakers. This extensive language support has facilitated its adoption in diverse linguistic and cultural contexts. 

Grok 3 vs. GPT-4o: A head-to-head comparison

As two of the most powerful AI models, Grok 3 and GPT-4o offer distinct advantages, but how do they compare? Let’s break it down:

  • Performance: Early testing suggests Grok 3 outperforms GPT-4o in specific domains such as mathematics, scientific reasoning and coding. Its Big Brain Mode enhances complex problem-solving, making it a potential game-changer for researchers and engineers. Still, GPT-4o remains an industry benchmark for general reasoning, language fluency and creative writing, maintaining a reputation for highly coherent and contextually rich responses.
  • User experience: Grok 3 introduces Think Mode, allowing users to follow its step-by-step reasoning, a feature absent in GPT-4o. This transparency can help users better understand AI-generated conclusions. On the other hand, GPT-4o’s multimodal capabilities (text, image and voice processing) provide a seamless experience for users who need a more interactive AI assistant.
  • Integrations: Grok 3 is deeply integrated into X and is exclusive to X Premium Plus subscribers, limiting its reach to users within that ecosystem. GPT-4o is widely accessible through OpenAI’s API, ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot and various enterprise applications, making it the go-to model for businesses and developers worldwide.
  • Search results: Grok 3’s DeepSearch feature enables real-time information retrieval, allowing users to pull the latest data directly from the web. While GPT-4o has internet browsing capabilities, it primarily relies on its pre-trained data set, supplemented by optional live browsing features.
  • Accessibility: Integrated exclusively with X Premium Plus subscriptions, Grok 3’s accessibility is confined to X’s user base. As of early 2025, X has over 600 million users globally, with a significant portion being free users. This exclusivity limits Grok 3’s reach to a subset of X's total users. OpenAI's GPT-4o boasts over 400 million weekly active users as of February 2025. OpenAI aims to reach 1 billion users by the end of 2025, indicating a broader market presence.
  • Pricing: Unlike GPT-4o, which offers tiered pricing through OpenAI API, Grok 3 is currently exclusive to X Premium Plus users ($16/month). OpenAI’s GPT-4o, on the other hand, has a free version for users and is available across Microsoft Copilot, OpenAI API and enterprise platforms for developers, making it more accessible. OpenAI’s API offers pay-as-you-go pricing, with higher-tier capabilities available at increased rates. Enterprise users can also opt for the ChatGPT Team ($30/user/month), Enterprise plans, or pricier Pro Tier at $200/month, unlocking even higher API rate limits and extended access.
  • Training data: One major concern in AI is bias in responses; xAI claims Grok 3 reduces ideological bias by diversifying training data sources and including user-adjustable bias settings. This allows users to toggle AI responses based on preference, a feature absent in GPT-4o.

Did you know? Elon Musk and Sam Altman exchanged words on X, where Musk made a staggering $97.4 billion offer to acquire OpenAI, the company he co-founded with Sam Altman and others in 2015. Altman declined the proposal, emphasizing OpenAI's commitment to its mission over financial gains and counter-offering to buy X for the same amount.

Grok 3 vs. GPT-4o: Which one stands out?

Both Grok 3 and GPT-4o represent cutting-edge advancements in artificial intelligence, each with its strengths. Below is a detailed comparison to help understand how these AI models stack up against each other.

Grok 3 vs. GPT-4o

Final verdict: Which AI model is better?

The choice between Grok 3 and GPT-4o depends on user needs:

  • If real-time research, transparency in reasoning and deep analytical capabilities are crucial, Grok 3 stands out.
  • If multimodal AI, enterprise applications and creative problem-solving are the priority, GPT-4o remains the superior choice.

Both models push the boundaries of AI evolution, and as competition heats up, we can expect even more breakthroughs in the future.