Grok, the AI assistant from xAI, has given users a first look at a new feature called “Skills,” designed to let people tailor how they receive AI-generated news updates. The preview, shared this week, shows a shift toward more personalized, on-demand news curation — but exactly when the feature rolls out to everyone remains unclear.
What the Skills feature does
The Skills feature lets users define specific topics, sources, or formats for the news updates Grok delivers. Instead of a one-size-fits-all feed, someone could, for example, ask for a daily briefing focused on tech regulation in Europe, or a weekly roundup of climate policy from three preferred outlets. The interface appears to let you set those parameters as saved “skills” that Grok remembers and activates on command.
For now, the feature is only in preview — a handful of testers have access. The company hasn’t said when it will reach the broader user base, or whether it will be free or part of a subscription tier.
If the Skills feature works as advertised, it could change how people interact with AI news tools. Right now most AI news summaries are either generated on the fly from a single prompt or come as a generic daily digest. Skills would let you build a persistent, customized news assistant — one that knows you want climate and space news but not celebrity gossip.
That kind of granular control is rare among current AI news products. Grok’s approach leans into the idea that users want agency over the filter, not just a black-box algorithm deciding what’s important.
What’s still unknown
Several questions remain. Will Skills allow users to exclude certain publications or regions? Can skills be shared or traded between users? And most importantly — when will the preview end and the public launch begin? xAI hasn’t provided a timeline. For now, those who want a truly custom news feed will have to wait.
