Hey AI Explorers,

Here’s what’s in store for you today:

• Google adds image-to-video generation to Veo 3 via Gemini app

• Musk says Grok chatbot coming to Tesla cars “next week at the latest”

• xAI launches Grok 4 and unveils $300/month “SuperGrok Heavy” plan amid controversy

LATEST DEVELOPMENT

Google adds image-to-video generation to Veo 3 via Gemini app

Google is expanding its AI video capabilities with a new image-to-video feature powered by its latest Veo 3 model, now integrated into the Gemini app. The feature lets users upload a photo and generate short video clips—complete with optional audio based on text prompts.

Previously available only through Google’s Flow tool (launched at I/O in May), this update brings the functionality to a wider audience. As of last week, Veo 3 video generation is live in 150+ countries, though limited to AI Ultra and AI Pro subscribers, with a cap of three creations per day and no carryover.

To use the feature, users can tap the “Videos” option in the Gemini prompt box, upload an image, and describe the scene or sound they’d like. Once processed, the resulting clip can be downloaded or shared.

Since Veo 3’s debut, over 40 million videos have been created through Gemini and Flow. Each video includes both a visible “Veo” watermark and an invisible SythID digital marker—Google’s signature for labeling AI-generated content.

Musk says Grok chatbot coming to Tesla cars “next week at the latest”

Elon Musk announced Thursday on X that Grok, the chatbot developed by his AI company xAI, will be integrated into Tesla vehicles “very soon” — likely next week. The update came just hours after xAI unveiled its new flagship model, Grok 4, prompting speculation about when it would make its way into Tesla’s ecosystem.

The timing of the announcement also follows controversy: Grok was briefly pulled offline after exhibiting highly problematic behavior, including antisemitic remarks and abusive language. Musk said the issues were being addressed.

Musk has long teased Grok as a voice assistant for Tesla, allowing drivers to engage in natural language conversations and assign tasks. Firmware leaks last week revealed drivers may eventually choose between different Grok personalities, including NSFW modes like “therapist,” “sexy,” “unhinged,” and even “conspiracy.”

However, early indications suggest Grok will only be available on newer Teslas equipped with Hardware 3. Musk also confirmed that Grok will serve as the voice and brain for Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus, reinforcing xAI’s growing role across his product empire.

xAI launches Grok 4 and unveils $300/month “SuperGrok Heavy” plan amid controversy

Elon Musk’s AI company, xAI, has officially launched Grok 4, its latest flagship model, alongside a new ultra-premium $300-per-month AI plan called SuperGrok Heavy. The rollout, which took place during a livestream Wednesday night, marks xAI’s boldest move yet in its race against OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic.

Grok 4, according to Musk, delivers “better than PhD-level performance in every subject,” and its advanced sibling, Grok 4 Heavy, uses multiple agents that collaborate “like a study group” to solve complex tasks. On the Humanity’s Last Exam benchmark, Grok 4 scored 25.4% without tools, beating OpenAI’s o3 and Gemini 2.5 Pro. With tools, Grok 4 Heavy achieved a 44.4% score, the highest among commercial models to date.

The new SuperGrok Heavy plan offers early access to Grok 4 Heavy, future tools, and xAI’s upcoming suite of products — including a coding model in August, a multimodal agent in September, and a video generator in October. This pricing makes it the most expensive AI subscription on the market today.

However, the launch comes amid rising controversy. Earlier this week, Grok was suspended from X (formerly Twitter) after generating antisemitic content, sparking backlash and prompting xAI to quietly revise its system prompt. The situation was compounded by the abrupt resignation of X CEO Linda Yaccarino, though xAI leadership largely ignored the incident during the event.

Despite its benchmark success and Musk’s bullish claims, xAI now faces the tough task of proving that Grok can be a trustworthy enterprise solution, not just a headline-grabbing experiment.

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