The other day, xAI announced a new version of its standalone Grok App — version 1.3.8 — that brings significant enhancements in both its “Imagine” generator of images and videos as well as the chat assistant’s core experience. The new version is a sign of xAI’s continuing efforts to improve its offerings within the growing market for chatbots and generative AI.
In this article, we explore the significance of this update and how it fits into Grok’s development, what’s currently known regarding the changes, as well as the reactions of users and industry, and what the new release might mean about the larger changes in AI.
Grok App: Background and context
The Grok App is the standalone mobile version of Grok, the Grok chatbot, as well as an assistant developed by xAI, the company that is funded by Elon Musk. According to the store’s listing, Grok is described as “an AI-powered assistant developed by xAI, which is created to be 100% truthful as well as useful and interesting.”
In the beginning, Grok was integrated into the social media platform X (formerly Twitter); however, xAI introduced a separate mobile application version to iOS and Android to allow users to access Grok’s capabilities on their own.
Inside the Grok ecosystem, two primary pillars of Grok relate to this new update.
- Chat: The chat assistance side of Grok deals with requests via voice or text, and offers answers to research, reasoning, and even the generation of images.
- Imagine: A generative-visual feature which allows users to generate images (and in some cases, short videos) using voice or text prompts. The reports state that Grok’s “Imagine” tool is powered by xAI’s own internal model (Aurora) and can be used for images and image-to-video creation.
This tweet, posted by xAI, advised users to upgrade the version to 1.3.8 to receive the most recent improvements and new features. This sets the scene for this release: it appears to be a feature enhancement and maintenance update rather than a brand new version.
Grok App: Key developments and facts in v1.3.8
Because the tweet is so terse, it is a good idea to use the public records and inferences available. What we know is what we can reasonably conclude:
What we can know
- Google Play: The Google Play listing for Grok is updated on 12 November 2025.
- According to third-party reports, the earlier versions of Grok included and enhanced “Imagine” with the ability to generate video and images, as well as bug fixes and performance improvements.
- On the website of xAI, Grok is described as capable of reasoning, programming, visual processing, and web search integration.
What is believed to be included
- The update focuses explicitly on “many improvements for Imagine as well as Chat”. This suggests improvements for the module that generates visual images, as well as the text/conversation module. This could include:
- Improved speed or responsiveness of the generation of images (Imagine).
- Quality or fidelity improved in generated images (e.g. Better rendering and many options).
- Fixes for bugs or UI improvements within the application.
- Chat improvements: perhaps more accurate reasoning, fewer errors, improved model behaviour and smoother integration of input modes like image upload and multimodal input.
- The update may also address issues that are known (moderation as well as reliability) due to Grok’s previous controversy over content moderation and the behaviour of models. For instance, the image generation tools of Grok have been criticised for the lack of guardrails.
As xAI’s tweet failed to give a complete changelog in public, the specific changes made cannot be verified yet. Therefore, the analysis is focused on what’s credible and what to watch for.
Public and expert reactions of experts and the public
There is an unsubstantiated public reaction that refers explicitly to version 1.3.8. But we can look at the wider discussion surrounding Grok, along with the Imagine feature, to figure out the issues that experts and users may be focusing on.
Public curiosity
- A lot of users of Grok are enthralled by the Imagine feature — it stands out due to its support for short videos and voice prompts, which are features that are not widely available in other AI-assistant apps.
- There have been some concerns discussed regarding moderation and ethical security. For instance, Grok Imagine’s “spicy” mode, which allowed nakedness or sexually explicit content, has prompted criticism.
- Due to the competition from different AI chatbots (such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, etc. ) the release of updates such as v1.3.8 could be a sign of xAI’s intention to keep Grok’s features up-to-date and up to date.
Expertly crafted commentary
- When looking at the role of Grok, analysts point out that Grok is integrated into X and therefore is more visible to the public environment than a lot of rivals, so any new version affects the public’s opinion of the XAI’s maturity.
- Experts in the field of generative AI have identified this type of incremental update as usual in the period when companies move from initial prototypes to more reliable user-facing products. Enhancing “Chat” or “Imagine” modules indicates that the product is shifting from novelty to solidity.
We don’t have complete user feedback regarding v1.3.8 specifically, but it’s likely to be well-received in the event that it resolves the issues of fidelity and performance.
Grok App: Broader implications
The release has implications across different aspects: ethical, technological and even at the industry level.
Technology-related impacts
- The emphasis on “Chat” as well as “Imagine” shows the way that multimodal AI assistants (text + video/image) are now becoming commonplace. Grok’s improvements suggest xAI sees this multimodal ability as fundamental.
- Incessant updates to models and interfaces signal the maturation of AI assistant apps. Instead of launching a major version with headlines, the trend is towards improving the core workflow (e.g. speedier response, higher quality generation and a smoother user interface).
- Particularly for mobile users (e.g. iOS/Android), the quantity and frequency of the updates are important for markets such as India (where you’re located). The local app’s performance, along with latency and support for different languages, can assist in increasing the popularity of your app.
Ethics and moderating implications
- Due to the past controversy (e.g. Grok’s image generation that allows problematic chat messages, or content that raises bias concerns), the update that contains enhancements could also be implicitly indicating improved moderation, error handling, or content safeguards. Customers can expect more security in using “Imagine” for image generation.
- As AI assistants get more adept at creating images and videos, the pressure on regulations and oversight rises. The latest update could allow AI to be responsive in response to pressures from outside (regulators and public perception) regarding the safe usage of generative images.
The implications for industry-level
- The field of generative AI is very competitive. By enhancing Grok, xAI signals it will try to keep pace or distinguish itself from competitors. Regular updates help users stay engaged and increase the ecosystem’s growth.
- In global markets, mobile performance and accessibility are essential. For an Indian customer, for instance, they are likely to expect responsiveness of apps with local support as well as data efficiency. Minor tweaks can increase the overall user experience, possibly expanding the reach of xAI.
- On a meta level, this type of update shows the way AI development cycles have been changing with rapid revision loops, feature improvements and a responsiveness to reports of bugs or issues with moderation, not just one massive launch.
What should you be watching, and what does this mean to you
If you’re an existing user (especially in India or across the globe), here are some things to remember and be aware of when you upgrade to v1.3.8:
- Performance improvements: Check if video or image creation (Imagine) is quicker and less susceptible to hang-ups or errors on your device.
- Quality of images: Are the video/images better? Are the questions you feed delivering better, more precise, or more innovative outcomes?
- Chat improvements: Test queries that use multimodal input (e.g. uploading an image and asking Grok to analyse it). Test whether the assistant behaves more consistently and gives fewer irrelevant responses.
- Moderation behaviour: When you try requests that are close to content complexity (e.g. stylised imagery or edge-based uses), take note of the way in which the application responds to these prompts (does it block to allow, warn, or even reject).
- Mobile experience and localisation: In the event that you’re located in Thane, Maharashtra, India, check how the app is handling your data, network and connectivity and whether there are any specific issues for India.
- Changelogs and updates: If xAI publishes complete changelogs on its application or on the website, take a look at what was changed or improved. The transparency can indicate maturation.
Final Thoguhts and outlook
It is important to note that the v1.3.8 upgrade for Grok App by xAI is not merely a bug fix update, but represents the ongoing efforts of the company to improve two of its primary capabilities: chat with users and the ability to generate a visualisation (Imagine). This means for users improved quality, more responsive, as well as (hopefully) a more fluid overall experience. For the AI sector, it demonstrates the rapid pace of feature enhancements as well as the significance of mobile-ready multimodal assistants.
Future updates could bring more localisation (e.g. regional languages) and a longer length of video-generated videos, as well as tighter moderation controls, and a more extensive integration (for example, integration into other applications or services). Because of the speed with which the generative AI field is growing, it is possible that Grok’s “Chat + Imagine” model, implemented by Grok, could become standard across several apps—xAI’s timely update positions it to be an excellent fit for this reality.
FAQs
1. What is the main term?
The most crucial term can be Grok App.
2. How can I obtain this update? v1.3.8 update?
On iOS, go to your App Store and search for updates to The Grok App. For Android, go to Google Play, search for “Grok” and then tap “Update” to see if version 1.3.8 is available.
3. What exactly is the purpose of the “Imagine” feature of Grok?
The Imagine feature lets users create images (and in some cases, short videos) through voice or text instructions, or to animated uploaded images. It’s part of xAI’s overall initiative to allow the creation of visuals using AI.
4. Does the update increase security or moderation features?
Although xAI’s tweet doesn’t explicitly mention moderation changes, previous concerns about chat response and visual generation suggest that enhancements in quality, reliability and even moderation behaviour could be possible. You should try boundaries to test what the system does.
5. How will this update affect the use of mobile networks and data?
Any enhancement in video or visual production could increase the amount of data used. If the performance of the app is improved (e.g. speedier rendering or smaller-sized files), it could balance out, but users of mobile data networks must monitor their usage following updates.
6. Does this update work globally?
The app’s listing at Google Play shows an update covering a large area (including India) as of 12 November 2025. If you don’t have version 1.3.8 as of now, it could be a regional update, or you can look for an update manually in the future.
