Grok 4: xAI's Breakthrough Large Language Model Redefines AI Benchmarks

On July 10, xAI officially launched Grok 4, a cutting-edge large language model (LLM) that CEO Elon Musk calls "the most intelligent AI in the world." With Grok 4, xAI aims to set a new standard in artificial intelligence, breaking through the recent plateau in AI model performance and redefining industry benchmarks.

The AI community, long accustomed to incremental improvements, is energized by Grok 4's leap in benchmark scores and next-level performance. Musk claims, "On academic problems, Grok 4 is now better than PhD-level in every subject, with no exceptions," highlighting xAI's confidence in its latest model.

With Grok 4, xAI positions itself as a frontrunner in the next generation of large language models.

Grok 4 Benchmark Results: Setting New AI Performance Standards

When it comes to AI benchmarks, Grok 4's results are remarkable:

• Human Last Exam (HLE): Grok 4 scored 45% on this challenging academic benchmark of 2,500 questions, far surpassing Gemini 2.5 Pro's 21%. Musk notes, "The best human might score 5%."

• ARC AGI v2 Benchmark: Grok 4 achieved 15.8%, doubling the score of the runner-up, Claude 4 Opus, and becoming the only model in months to exceed 10%.

Across other top-tier benchmarks, Grok 4 excels:

• GBQA (Graduate-Level Questions Benchmark): Nearly perfect accuracy.
• AMC 25 (American Mathematics Competitions): Grok 4 Heavy achieved a perfect score.
• Live Coding Benchmark: Leading programming performance.
• HMMT (Harvard-MIT Mathematics Tournament): Significant lead over competitors.
• USAMO (USA Mathematical Olympiad): Dominated the leaderboard.

Real-World AI Performance: Vending Benchmark & Biomedical Applications

Academic tests are only part of the story. In the Vending Benchmark—a business simulation—Grok 4's net earnings doubled the previous top model, sustaining operations twice as long and earning over $4,700, outperforming average human operators.

This echoes Anthropic's Claude 4 vending machine experiment, pointing to the rise of "digital employees." Musk quipped, "We just need a million vending machines to make $4.7 billion a year," underscoring AI's potential for complex business decisions.

In biomedical AI, the ARC Institute uses Grok 4 to automate CRISPR research, rapidly analyzing millions of experimental logs to identify top hypotheses. Grok 4 also achieved the highest score in a chest X-ray benchmark.

The Grok Team

Grok 4 sets a new high-water mark for foundation models tackling specialized, complex tasks.

Musk predicts: "The first truly good AI video game will appear next year, the first watchable AI TV show this year, and the first AI movie next year."

Grok 4 establishes a new baseline for next-gen AI, including future models like ChatGPT-5 and Gemini 3.0. The AI race has shifted from incremental improvements to generational leaps, with xAI taking the initiative.

Grok 4 Live Demo: Real-Time AI Reasoning and Multimodal Capabilities

To showcase Grok 4's capabilities, xAI conducted live demonstrations, emphasizing real-time problem-solving. These demos covered advanced mathematical reasoning, organic chemistry, linguistics, real-time search, market prediction, and physics simulation, highlighting Grok 4's multidisciplinary strengths.

Mathematical Reasoning: Category Theory

The first challenge involved "natural transformations in category theory," a topic for advanced mathematicians.

Grok 4 deconstructed the problem, built a solution path, and delivered the correct answer with transparent logic.

Organic Chemistry: Electrocyclic Reactions

Grok 4 explained the mechanism of an electrocyclic reaction, detailing orbital symmetry and providing a step-by-step answer.

Linguistics: Hebrew Phonology

Grok 4 analyzed a Hebrew text, distinguishing between open and closed syllables, and explained the evolution of Hebrew phonological rules.

Real-Time Search: Profile Picture Analysis

In a live request, Grok 4 searched the X platform to find the "weirdest" profile picture among xAI employees, demonstrating real-time analysis and subjective reasoning.

Market Prediction: MLB World Series Odds

Using Grok 4 Heavy, the AI browsed websites, built probability models, and predicted a 21.6% win probability for the Dodgers, all in real time.

Physics Simulation: Black Hole Collision Visualization

Grok 4 generated a gravitational wave simulation, explained its reasoning, and cited a gravitational wave textbook, demonstrating scientific rigor.

Multimodal AI: Voice and Speed Comparison

The event introduced "Eve," a new expressive voice for Grok 4. In a speed test, Grok 4's voice responses were nearly instantaneous, outperforming ChatGPT.

Grok 4 Architecture: Reinforcement Learning and Colossus Supercomputer

Grok 4 builds on Grok 3, with major advances in reinforcement learning (RL). xAI allocated 10x more compute to RL than competitors, leveraging its Colossus supercomputer with 200,000 GPUs. Proprietary technologies generated challenging RL problems and reliable feedback at scale. Grok 4 was also trained for native tool use, boosting performance on complex tasks.

Tool use made a significant impact: in the HLE test, Grok 4 with tool access improved scores by over 50% compared to text-only versions, following predictable scaling laws.

Musk confirmed continued investment in tool training: "The tools Grok 4 uses are still primitive, but we'll provide more advanced tools later this year."

xAI's training methodology combines proven techniques, unprecedented GPU power, and engineering discipline—a strategy of "brute force and brilliance."

Grok 4 Heavy: Multi-Agent System for Enhanced AI Performance

Grok 4 Heavy introduces a multi-agent system, where multiple AI agents solve the same problem independently and then collaborate. This approach boosted HLE test performance: a single Grok 4 agent solved 40%, while Grok 4 Heavy surpassed 50%.

xAI signals that the future of foundation models is multi-agent.

Grok 4 Pricing and API Access

Grok 4 is available via a tiered pricing model:

• SuperGrok: $30/month for Grok 4 access.
• Super Grok Heavy: $300/month for Grok 4 and Grok 4 Heavy (multi-agent system).

While higher than some competitors, the performance leap may justify the cost for many users. Developers can access the Grok 4 API with a 256k context length, and enterprise users can deploy the model via major cloud providers.

Grok 4 Roadmap: What's Next for xAI?

Musk outlined an ambitious roadmap:

• August: Specialized programming model
• September: Full multimodal agent
• October: Video generation model

xAI plans to train its video model with over 100,000 GB200s, aiming for an October launch. Grok's iteration speed is unmatched: four generations in 18 months.

"We are in an intelligence explosion," Musk declared. Grok 4's launch signals a new chapter for AI: longer-range tasks, advanced tool use, multi-agent architectures, and real-world validation.

xAI, once in the shadow of Google and OpenAI, now stands in the spotlight, driven by GPU power, relentless engineering, and rapid development.

Musk concluded, "We will be the fastest-developing AI company." He predicts Grok will "discover new technology by the end of this year, and possibly new physics next year."

He envisions a future where AI transforms the world: "We're at 1-2% of Kardashev I. We'll reach 80-90%, then Kardashev II. The future human economy will make today's look like cavemen throwing sticks in a fire."

AI Safety and Societal Impact: The Road Ahead

With rapid AI evolution, questions about AI safety and societal impact are urgent. While Musk focuses on technological progress, the broader industry must ensure advances benefit humanity.

As Musk said, "Even if AI is not good for humanity, I at least want to be alive to see it happen."