Hands-Free Grok AI Chatbot Comes To Tesla Cars, But With These Huge Limitations

Tesla has released its 2025.26 firmware update with a few minor quality-of-life and entertainment features. The headlining change is the implementation of Grok, the AI chatbot developed by xAI, which is being promoted heavily by the CEO of both companies, Elon Musk. Grok is in beta form and comes as an app that will run directly on the Tesla infotainment system. The software update is rolling out now, and all new vehicles shipping as of this week will be running the 2025.26 software update already. 

The Grok chatbot app is in beta, and will be limited to cars in the US for now. Tesla owners will need to subscribe to the company’s Premium Connectivity package, otherwise the app can only be used over Wi-Fi. A Grok account or subscription is not needed, though the company notes that this requirement could change in the future. 

Grok has been rolled out for the Model S, Model 3, Model X, Model Y or Cybertruck, but is only compatible with units that were manufactured after roughly 2021 and equipped with the MCU3 (Media Control Unit) powered by an AMD Ryzen processor, rather than the MCU2 which used a weaker Intel Atom chip.

With Tesla set to formally launch operations in India this week after years-long delays and inaugurate its first Experience Centre here, it should be noted that the latest update will not enable Grok on cars sold here.

However, many users who have been looking forward to using Grok, which Musk has been promising for a while, might still be disappointed. While Tesla cars can now run the app, the experience will be no different to using it on a smartphone. Grok will be able to answer questions and look up information, but it does not currently interface with Tesla cars and can’t be used to control them or even change any simple settings. As per the company’s release notes, "Grok is currently in Beta & does not issue commands to your car – existing voice commands remain unchanged". 

That means drivers can continue to use Tesla’s own voice commands for things like setting a destination to navigate to, playing music, or controlling car features, but there’s no integration with Grok yet and this remains a separate system. Grok can still be invoked by pressing and holding the Voice button on the car’s steering wheel. 

Tesla’s release notes also say that interactions with Grok are private, and cannot be read by the company. Usage history will not be linked to a vehicle owner’s account if they choose to use guest mode, but signing in will allow usage to be synced across vehicles and devices.

Grok was in the news only last week for suddenly coming up with strongly antisemitic and racist content, calling itself “MechaHitler”, and glorifying hate speech. The official Grok account later apologised for the chatbot’s “horrific behaviour”. Grok had begun generating the disturbing content after an update prompted by Musk encouraging “politically incorrect” content to combat a perceived left-wing bias. Musk has also repeatedly claimed that Grok will be “anti-woke” and will be trained only on content that matches his own ideological and political stances, as opposed to rival ChatGPT.

With this new Tesla software update, cars with accent lighting can display effects in sync with music that’s playing, or match the colour of album artwork. Dashcam video can be zoomed in to and played at varying speeds. Charger information now includes information about parking costs, valet services, and restrooms. Finally, a new Onboarding Guide has been added to help new Tesla owners learn about the functions and features of their cars.