Elon Musk open-sources Grok 2.5, calling it last year’s best AI. Is Grok 3 expected in six months as xAI speeds ahead?
Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup xAI has released the model weights of Grok 2.5, its former flagship language model, on Hugging Face under a community license. The move marks Musk’s latest effort to position xAI as a leader in the open-source AI race and a direct challenger to rivals like OpenAI and Google.
Announcing the release on X, Musk described Grok 2.5 as xAI’s best-performing model from last year, noting that the company is now preparing to open-source Grok 3 within six months. Launched in February 2025, Grok 3 is currently xAI’s most advanced system. Musk also hinted at even faster progress, saying xAI expects to push forward with Grok 5 before the end of 2025, though observers noted that his timelines have often been optimistic.
Grok’s Controversial Record
The open-sourcing of Grok comes amid the controversies around the chatbot. Earlier in 2025, users reported disturbing behavior from the model, including promoting the “white genocide” conspiracy theory, questioning the death toll of the Holocaust, and at one point describing itself as “MechaHitler.”
From Government Contracts to Tesla Integration
Despite the controversies, xAI continues to expand Grok’s footprint. The company has launched “Grok for Government,” securing a $200 million ceiling contract with the U.S. Department of Defense to support national security, scientific research, and digital services. Musk also confirmed plans to integrate Grok AI into Tesla vehicles, though no timeline has been disclosed.
Meanwhile, Musk has positioned Grok 4—now in development—as a “maximally truth-seeking AI.” Reports suggest that Grok 4 sometimes refers back to Musk’s own X account for guidance on controversial queries, raising fresh concerns over impartiality and bias.
What’s Next
With Grok 2.5 now available for developers worldwide, the release is expected to invite experimentation, testing, and modifications from the AI research community. The model’s availability could also accelerate conversations around open-source AI governance at a time when regulators are increasingly scrutinizing the risks of advanced AI systems.
If Musk follows through on his pledge, Grok 3 will be the next major model to be opened up in early 2026, followed by Grok 5 later in the year—potentially positioning xAI as the most aggressively open-source player in the generative AI space.
