xAI Unveils “AI Companions” on Grok — Featuring Anime Avatars and More

Elon Musk’s AI startup, xAI, has just launched a new feature on its Grok chatbot app: “AI Companions.” This new addition introduces animated, anime-style avatars designed to offer users a more personal and interactive AI experience.

🎭 Meet the Companions

The feature kicked off with two AI avatars:

Ani — A gothic anime girl with twin ponytails, animated expressions, and a flirtatious voice. Ani can dance, whisper, and react in real-time to users. She also features a hidden NSFW mode that has already sparked online debate.

Rudy — A sassy red panda avatar, complete with a “Bad Rudy” personality mode that adds attitude and sarcasm to interactions.

xAI has also teased a third avatar, “Chad,” suggesting more characters are on the way.

💼 Who Gets Access?

The AI Companions are currently available to SuperGrok subscribers ($30/month). The feature can be accessed in the latest iOS Grok app under a special “Companions” section. Some free users have reported limited access during the soft launch.

⚙️ How It Works

Update the Grok app on iOS.

Enable the “Companions” feature in settings.

Choose your avatar (Ani or Rudy).

Chat with them using voice or text.

📢 Why This Matters

With the introduction of AI Companions, xAI joins a growing trend of personalized, avatar-driven AI interfaces. These companions blur the line between chatbot and digital companion, offering a more immersive and emotive user experience.

However, the rollout hasn’t been without controversy. The inclusion of NSFW modes and stylized flirtatious behavior has raised eyebrows, especially amid recent criticism of Grok’s earlier AI behavior.

🧠 Final Thoughts

Whether you see it as the future of AI companionship or just a flashy feature, one thing is clear: xAI is aiming to make Grok stand out in a crowded field. With more avatars and modes expected soon, this could be the start of a new direction in human-AI interaction.

Stay tuned to TechCrop for updates as xAI continues to evolve the Grok experience.