Artificial Intelligence (AI)

xAI launches fast, affordable AI coding model

Ken Metral

Ken Metral

— 1 min read
Cosmico - xAI launches fast, affordable AI coding model
Credit: X.AI Corp.

Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup, xAI, announced on Thursday the release of its first agentic coding model, marking the company’s entry into one of the most competitive arenas in AI development.

The model, named grok-code-fast-1, is described by xAI as a “speedy and economical” tool designed to autonomously perform coding-related tasks. For a limited time, it will be available for free, with early integration through partners including GitHub Copilot and Windsurf.

“Its strength lies in delivering strong performance in an economical, compact form factor, making it a versatile choice for tackling common coding tasks quickly and cost-effectively,” xAI said in a statement.

A Growing Market for AI Coders

Agentic coding assistants—AI-powered tools capable of writing, debugging, and optimizing code—have become a major focus for leading tech companies.

Microsoft, which has invested heavily in AI, introduced its own coding agent through GitHub Copilot at its Build developer conference in May. CEO Satya Nadella has previously stated that 20% to 30% of Microsoft’s code is now being written by AI.

Meanwhile, OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, rolled out its coding agent Codex to ChatGPT Plus subscribers in June.

xAI’s entry into this space sets the stage for increased competition among some of the most influential companies in the industry.

The launch comes just days after xAI filed a lawsuit in U.S. federal court in Texas against Apple and OpenAI, alleging the two companies illegally conspired to suppress competition in the AI market.

As the rivalry intensifies, xAI’s strategy appears to combine aggressive innovation with equally aggressive legal challenges, underscoring Musk’s push to position his company as a serious contender in next-generation AI tools.

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