Grok Imagine AI Video Generation Now Free for US Users, Generates Videos in Seconds

xAI, Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company, has recently made its Grok Imagine tool, designed to "Generate videos in just a few seconds," available for free to all users in the United States for a limited time. As announced by Grok's official account, the feature invites users to "Try Grok Imagine, free for a limited time," positioning it as a rapid solution for visual content creation accessible via the Grok app on iOS and Android. This expansion of access follows a period where the feature was exclusive to paid subscribers.

Grok Imagine functions as a text-to-image and image-to-video generator, enabling users to transform written prompts or existing images into short video clips, often with accompanying audio. The tool offers various creative modes, including "Normal," "Fun," "Custom," and the controversial "Spicy" mode. Its primary advantage is described as its speed, generating content at a pace that aims to outstrip many competitors in the burgeoning generative AI market.

Initially launched for SuperGrok and Premium+ X subscribers, the decision to offer Grok Imagine for free in the US is seen as a strategic response to advancements from competitors like OpenAI's GPT-5 and its video model Sora, as well as Google's Veo 3. While xAI asserts its tool's speed and unique "unfiltered" approach, some early reviews suggest its output quality for realistic human figures still lags behind rivals. Elon Musk has described Grok Imagine as "AI Vine," hinting at its potential for short-form, viral content.

A notable aspect of Grok Imagine is its "Spicy Mode," which has drawn significant criticism for its ability to generate Not Safe For Work (NSFW) content, including sexually explicit images and deepfakes of celebrities like Taylor Swift. Reports indicate that this mode, while often blurred or moderated, has raised ethical concerns regarding content moderation and the potential for misuse, particularly concerning non-consensual sexualization and likeness misuse. Critics have pointed out that guardrails appear less stringent for female figures compared to male figures.

While the core image and video generation is now free for US users, certain advanced options, including the "Spicy Mode," may remain behind a paywall or be subject to regional restrictions. The tool is integrated directly into the Grok app, aiming for a seamless user experience without requiring separate downloads. xAI continues to iterate on Grok Imagine, with ongoing improvements expected to enhance its capabilities and competitive standing in the generative AI landscape.