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Grok, the AI assistant that's for some reason baked into X, is now available as a standalone app. Like the version that exists as a tab on the social media platform, the Grok app can be used to generate images, summarize text and answer questions, with a conversational tone xAI, the AI assistant's creator, calls "humorous and engaging." The app was first tested with a limited set of users in December 2024, right around the same time X debuted a free tier of Grok that's available to anyone. Prior to that, you needed to pay at least $8 a month for X Premium to have the privilege of using the AI. Ian Campbell for Engadget The limitations of that free access 10 requests every two hours, three image analysis request per day may also apply to the Grok app. You can use the app without signing in, or sign-in with an Apple account, X account, Google account, or a plain old email. It's not clear whether an X Premium subscription gets you added benefits in the Grok app in the same way it does X. Grok has struggled with similar issues around accuracy and bizarre image generation choices as other AI assistants like Gemini and ChatGPT. The chatbot mainly stands out from its competitors because xAI pitched it as being able to answer "spicy questions" other AI assistants avoid, and a version of the Grok AI model is open source. You'll have to see for yourself how "spicy" the Grok app ultimately is, but at least you don't have to go to X to use it now.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/xs-grok-ai-assistant-is-now-a-standalone-app-225151579.html?src=rss
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Amazon shared the latest list of video game titles that Prime members can snag for free this month. Members can pick up a code for BioShock 2 Remastered right now, and if you're patient, you can also grab a free copy of Deus Ex GOTY Edition or Super Meat Boy Forever later in January. The cloud-based Amazon Luna gaming service has also shared its current lineup of titles that Prime members can play. Airhead, Guacamelee! 2 Complete, The Magical Mixture Mill, Metro Exodus and Super Meat Boy are in the rotation for that service this month alongside Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition, Fallout New Vegas: Ultimate Edition, Fortnight, LEGO Fortnite, Fortnite Festival, Fortnite Battle Royale, Rocket Racing and Trackmania. Some of Prime Gaming's freebies last for longer than 30 days, so you've also got some time left to pick up a copy of some of the December titles if you haven't already loaded up on those deals. But if you're looking ahead, here's the full lineup of upcoming free Prime Gaming titles this month and when they'll be available. Now BioShock 2 Remastered (GOG) The Bridge (Epic Games Store) Eastern Exorcist (Epic Games Store) SkyDrift Infinity (Epic Games Store) Spirit Mancer (Amazon Games App) January 16 Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader (Epic Games Store) GRIP (GOG) SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech (GOG) January 23 Deus Ex GOTY Edition (GOG) Spitlings (Amazon Games App) Star Stuff (Epic Games Store) To the Rescue! (Epic Games Store) Zombie Army 4: Dead War (Epic Games Store) January 30 Blood West (GOG) ENDER LILIES: Quietus of the Knights (Epic Games Store) Super Meat Boy Forever (Epic Games Store) This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/pick-up-bioshock-2-remastered-and-deus-ex-in-prime-gamings-january-freebies-215515330.html?src=rss
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I wouldnt go as far as to say its been dethroned, but Mirumi the clingy fluffball with a staring problem now has some serious competition for the title of cutest robot at CES 2025. I just met Ropet, a wide-eyed companion robot with warm, soft fur, little flapping arms and big feelings. And damn is that thing adorable. Ropets sole mission is to love and be loved. Think of it like a living plushie; it has a personality, will listen to your deepest darkest secrets without judgement, and will reach out to hug you when youre sad. Its appearance is customizable and it has optional ChatGPT integration, so its there if you want it for advanced conversations with the robot but youre not forced into it. Its little button nose is a camera that it uses for face and object recognition; Ropet can identify and bond more closely with its owner, but it will remember other people too. All of this data is stored and processed locally, meaning it never leaves the device itself. If you dont trust that (fair), you can keep Ropet entirely disconnected from the internet, and itll still be capable of performing all of its functions minus ChatGPT. That includes reacting to audio, touch and gesture inputs. If you pet or cuddle it, its expression will change to visible happiness. Or, it might look grumpy if you shake it around. (What are you, evil? Dont do that). Show it one of the few dozen objects it knows, like a hot dog or a banana, and youll see an emoji of that pop up in its eyes. You can give it the shush sign to quiet it down, and itll dance along if youre listening to music. Karissa Bell for Engadget Were at the point of CES week where were all running on fumes, and Ropet brought unexpected childlike glee to this burnt-out gremlin for a few minutes. Emotional companion robots are a ubiquitous presence at CES, but the ones that actually have some degree of smarts are not usually so snuggleable. And the ones that are snuggleable usually arent very smart, tending to come across more like animatronics. Ropet looks kind of like a fluffy baby seal but not realistic enough to dip into uncanny valley territory and its body gives off heat to simulate the feeling of holding a living creature. Its hard not to draw comparisons to Furby, which is probably the best-known example of a robotic creature pet that responds to voice and touch commands. But Ropet takes the whole idea to another level. You can change the color of its eyes in the app, and buy different face plates and furs if you want to mix things up or just cant decide on how you want its appearance. There are also little outfits you can purchase. A Kickstarter campaign for Ropet managed to pull in $228,091, wildly surpassing its $1,285 goal, so Im definitely not the only one who thinks this little guy seems pretty promising. There are two purchase options for anyone who is interested: Ropet Basic ($299), which comes with a case and a USB-C charging cord, and Ropet Pro ($329), which comes with those things plus a charging base that has light effects and lets Ropet rotate a little. The Kickstarter doesnt end until January 21, so if you catch it before then you can get it for significantly cheaper. Early bird orders are expected to begin shipping in March, and the rest will be unleashed upon the world later this year. Now, we sit back and see whether Ropet will follow in the footsteps of Furby to develop its own mildly sinister lore that endures for decades to come. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/ropet-is-the-cute-as-hell-emotional-robot-at-ces-2025-that-the-modern-furby-wishes-it-could-be-214046211.html?src=rss
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