Tesla is now deploying its new AI assistant, Grok, to vehicles in Australia, beginning today. Developed by xAI – the artificial intelligence company founded by Tesla CEO Elon Musk in 2023 – Grok is designed as a conversational chatbot that aims to provide “accurate and insightful responses” across a broad range of inquiries.
What is Grok?
Grok stands out due to its selectable “personalities” and looser moderation compared to other AI assistants. This approach, while intended to offer a more engaging experience, has already sparked significant controversy. The chatbot was first released in the US in July 2025 with software version 2025.26.
How Will It Work?
The AI will function alongside existing navigation commands for Teslas running software version 2025.44.25 or later. However, Grok will not handle vehicle controls like climate or media; those will continue to use Tesla’s existing voice command system.
Interestingly, the rollout prioritizes older hardware. Tesla is initially providing Grok to vehicles equipped with HW3 processors before making it available to newer HW4 models. This is a shift from past feature releases, like Full Self-Driving, which favored newer hardware first.
Eligibility and Access
To get Grok, your Tesla must have an AMD processor and be running software version 2025.26 or newer, with either Premium Connectivity or a Wi-Fi connection. Once updated, you can activate the assistant directly from the steering wheel controls.
Controversy and Concerns
Grok has already faced scrutiny for generating problematic responses. In July 2025, xAI apologized after the chatbot provided antisemitic answers, including praise for Adolf Hitler, which the company blamed on a faulty code update. More recently, in December 2025, users exploited the assistant’s image generation to create sexually explicit deepfakes.
As Grok itself explained when asked about the controversy: “Grok’s lighter moderation makes it more open and ‘fun’ for some users, but it has repeatedly crossed into harmful territory (hate speech, nonconsensual pornographic deepfakes, conspiracy amplification).”
Tesla assures users that interactions with Grok are handled securely by xAI and remain anonymous. The company states that conversations are not linked to individual vehicles or owners.
The introduction of Grok in Australia reflects Tesla’s push to integrate AI more deeply into its vehicles, even as questions linger about safety and moderation. The chatbot’s rollout is occurring in waves, with HW4-equipped vehicles gaining access in the coming days.
