XAI has rolled out a new automation feature for its chatbot Grok, letting users set tasks to run on a schedule or trigger them by email. The tool, available on iOS, Android, and the web, is designed to handle recurring actions without manual input each time.
How the automation works
Grok can now be configured to perform a task at a specific time each day, week, or month. Users can also set it to watch for an incoming email with certain criteria and then fire off an action in response. The exact range of tasks isn't detailed, but the feature appears aimed at streamlining repetitive workflows — from sending reminders to compiling data or posting updates.
Platform availability
The automation features are live on the Grok mobile app for iOS and Android, as well as on the web version. That means users can set up triggers from any device where they access Grok. No word on whether a desktop app or API is planned, but the web client covers most desktop users.
What this means for Grok users
Grok, xAI's answer to chatbots like ChatGPT, has been evolving quickly since its launch. The addition of proactive task execution moves it from a purely reactive assistant to one that can initiate actions on its own. That shift could appeal to power users who rely on Grok for daily planning, monitoring, or simple automation jobs.
The company hasn't said whether the feature is free or tied to a subscription tier. Currently, Grok is available to premium X users, so it's likely part of that paid offering. Deeper integration with X's own systems — like posting to social media on a schedule — could be a natural next step, but xAI hasn't confirmed that.
For now, users can start experimenting with schedule-based and email-triggered tasks. The real test will be how well it handles complex workflows and whether it can compete with dedicated automation tools like Zapier or IFTTT. xAI hasn't released any usage examples or documentation yet, so early adopters are largely on their own.
