Learn about the LLM (large language model) Grok 3, its specialized modes, and benchmarks. Find out how it competes with leading models and learn how to use it.
Launched on February 17, 2025, Grok 3 is an LLM (large language model) developed by xAI, a company founded by Elon Musk. Previously, we've taken a look at the launch of Grok 2.0 and its FLUX.1 integration. Building on that foundation, Grok 3 delivers improved reasoning, faster response times, and real-time access to information. Similar to its previous versions, Grok 3 is integrated with X (formerly Twitter).
During Grok 3’s launch, Elon Musk, the CEO of xAI, and his team explained the motivation behind Grok. They emphasized that the mission of Grok 3 and xAI is to uncover the truths of the universe through relentless curiosity, even if that sometimes means the truth is at odds with what is politically correct.
Elon also elaborated on the meaning behind the name of the model, saying, "Grok is a word from a Heinlein novel, Stranger in a Strange Land. It's used by a guy who’s raised on Mars, and the word Grok is to fully and profoundly understand something.”
In this article, we’ll explore Grok 3’s features, its performance benchmarks, and its various AI modes. Let’s get started!
Before we take a look at Grok 3 in detail, let’s walk through the evolution of Grok. Here’s a quick glimpse of the key milestones leading up to Grok 3:
As each version improved, Grok’s development required more powerful infrastructure to support its advanced features and real-time learning. Earlier iterations had limitations in speed and adaptability, so xAI leveraged a more capable system to meet the AI model's growing demands.
At the center of this upgrade is Colossus, a supercomputer designed by xAI. Colossus was built in just 122 days. xAI installed 100,000 NVIDIA H100 GPUs (Graphics Processing Units), creating one of the largest AI data centers. Then in 92 days, the number of GPUs was doubled. This allowed Grok 3 to process more data, learn faster, and improve as people interacted with it.
Also, to maintain speed and efficiency, Grok 3 uses a technique called test-time compute at scale (TTCS). It adjusts the computing power based on the complexity of the question - simple questions use less power, while more complex ones receive extra resources. It makes it possible for the model to provide rapid and accurate responses while using resources efficiently.
One of the key features of Grok 3 is that it is available in specialized versions that can be used for different tasks. Let’s explore how each version enhances performance and improves user experience.
As generative AI becomes a part of everyday life, you've probably encountered chatbots that take too long to respond. Grok 3 Mini, a streamlined version of Grok 3, is designed to tackle that issue by delivering fast replies with lower computational demands.
It still retains the core capabilities of Grok 3, making it useful for applications that require smooth, cost-effective performance in real-time conversations. For instance, customer support chatbots and interactive virtual assistants can use Grok 3 Mini.
While Grok 3 Mini is designed for speed, Grok 3 Think is built for advanced reasoning and deep analysis. Trained through large-scale reinforcement learning, Grok 3 Think tackles complex problems by carefully analyzing queries, correcting errors through backtracking, and exploring multiple approaches.
For example, when solving a multi-step math problem, Grok 3 Think breaks it down into logical steps. Its unique Think mode even lets users inspect the chain of thought behind its final answer. This mode is useful for tasks like math proofs, coding challenges, and logic-based problems.
Other than the Think mode, Grok 3 comes with a couple of modes designed for different tasks. Next, let's walk through these Grok 3 modes and explore the additional features they offer.
Grok 3’s Big Brain mode can be used for tasks that demand deep analysis and structured problem-solving. It goes beyond standard processing by using extra computing power to tackle complex challenges with greater accuracy.
In particular, this mode prioritizes detailed reasoning over speed. It takes additonal time to generate responses but provides well-structured insights that are useful for research, coding, and multi-step AI tasks. Researchers and developers can use this mode for tasks where accuracy is a priority.
Grok 3’s DeepSearch mode helps the model stay current by retrieving live data and verifying sources before responding. Unlike many AI models that rely solely on stored knowledge, which can quickly become outdated, DeepSearch pulls in the latest information from the web. This makes sure that responses remain accurate even as facts and events evolve rapidly.
Whether you're following breaking news, tracking market trends, or verifying new scientific discoveries, DeepSearch is a fast, reliable way to access the most up-to-date insights.
By bridging the gap between static training data and the ever-changing flow of real-world events, DeepSearch enhances the accuracy and relevance of Grok 3’s responses.
When it comes to benchmarking, Grok 3 delivers impressive results across a range of tasks. With respect to reasoning, it scored 93.3% on the 2025 American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME), showing its strong ability to tackle complex math problems. It also achieved 84.6% on graduate-level expert reasoning tasks (GPQA) and 79.4% on coding challenges measured by LiveCodeBench, demonstrating its skill in handling multi-step problem-solving and code generation.
Even its streamlined version, Grok 3 Mini, performed remarkably, scoring 95.8% on AIME 2024 and 80.4% on LiveCodeBench, which shows that it balances efficiency with high performance.
You might be wondering, how does Grok 3 compare to its biggest competitor, ChatGPT? ChatGPT by OpenAI has been a prominent name in the AI space for years, constantly improving with each new version.
Meanwhile, Grok entered the market later in 2023, starting at a disadvantage. Early versions struggled with reasoning, especially compared to GPT-4.
However, xAI caught up with Grok 1.5 and Grok 2. Now, with Grok 3, they've made significant improvements. In fact, when benchmarked against its competitors, Grok 3 consistently demonstrates advanced reasoning and problem-solving capabilities that set it apart in tasks requiring in-depth analysis and complex thought.
As Grok evolves, some concerns have been raised regarding content moderation and the accuracy of information. For instance, its new voice interaction mode - available to premium subscribers - offers a range of personalities, including an "unhinged" setting that uses strong language and a candid tone.
While this mode reflects xAI’s aim to provide a more unrestricted conversational experience, it also prompts important discussions about putting in place guidelines and mitigating the spread of misinformation.
Similarly, since Grok 3 can utilize live data from X, it can generate unverified or biased information. Unlike models that rely on static data, continuous updates make moderation more challenging. These discussions highlight the ongoing challenge of developing responsible AI.
Despite these concerns, Grok 3 is being widely used. If you are interested in trying it out, here’s how you can access its features:
Grok 3 is an LLM with real-time learning features and specialized modes. It stands out in areas like research, coding, and problem-solving by pulling live data for more accurate answers.
While content moderation remains a topic of debate around it, its ability to improve and adapt has turned it into a strong competitor in the AI chatbot space. With each update, we are seeing Grok get more advanced.
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