Category: AI

In the summer of 2025, while most people were trying to figure out how to keep their iced coffee cold long enough to survive a Zoom meeting, Elon Musk decided to launch another rocket, but this time, it wasn’t into space. It was aimed straight at the heart of the AI race. 

On July 9–10, 2025, Musk’s AI company xAI rolled out Grok 4, its flagship artificial intelligence model, designed to take on the biggest names in the game: OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and Anthropic’s Claude. 

And because this is Musk we’re talking about, Grok 4 didn’t just arrive quietly. It came with an audacious pitch, a $300/month premium tier, a multi-agent reasoning engine called Grok 4 Heavy, and naturally, a few eyebrow-raising controversies before the first week was out. 

The Latest Twist: Grok 4 Is Now Free (With a Catch) 

Just when everyone thought Grok 4’s $300/month Heavy tier was the headline, xAI surprised the market again. According to reports from Social Media Today, Facebook, and the Times of India, Grok 4 is now available for free use, but only for a limited time and with some notable restrictions. 

Here’s what’s on the table: 

• Free Access.  Anyone can now try Grok 4 through the Grok iOS and Android apps or the X website. You can choose Auto Mode (routes complex questions to Grok 4) or Expert Mode (always uses Grok 4).

• Limited Usage. The free tier includes a daily query limit. If you want unlimited power, you’ll still need a paid subscription. 

• Strategic Timing. The move to make Grok 4 free came just days after OpenAI released GPT-5, widely seen as a strategic push to grab market share and lure users away from rivals.

This isn’t just a “nice perk.” This is a calculated product sampling strategy. xAI is letting the public get a taste of Grok 4’s capabilities in hopes they’ll pay for full, unrestricted access. 

 The Basics: What Exactly is Grok 4? 

Grok 4 is the latest evolution of xAI’s conversational model family, running on the Colossus supercomputer, it is a high-performance computing setup to chew through massive reasoning tasks like a Tesla Model S Plaid chews through 0–60, a mere 1.99 seconds. 

The model brings: 

• Native tool use and real-time search integration – including searches across X, the broader web, and news sources. 

• Advanced reasoning and multimodal capabilities handle text, images, and voice input. 

• Large context window. 128K tokens for the app, 256K for the API, so it can process extensive information in one go. 

• Grok 4 Heavy is the paid “supercharged” variant for SuperGrok Heavy subscribers, leveraging multi-agent reasoning for even higher accuracy. 

Musk’s Signature Style: Moonshot or Bust 

It wouldn’t be an Elon Musk product if it didn’t swing for the fences. Grok 4’s launch was positioned not as “our next version” but as “the most intelligent model in the world.” 

This confidence is classic Musk. This is the same mindset that took Tesla from a niche EV startup to a global disruptor, and that turned SpaceX’s reusable rockets from sci-fi dream to a boring Tuesday launch livestream. Musk doesn’t aim for “better.” He aims for category-killer.

Benchmarks That Have Everyone Talking 

According to multiple early tests: 

• 25.4% on Humanity’s Last Exam, a notoriously tough reasoning benchmark. 

• 16.2% on ARC-AGI-2, which is more than double Gemini 2.5 Pro’s score. 

• Internal AI evaluations put Grok 4 above GPT-4o and Claude in overall “AI intelligence index” rankings. 

• Outpaced ChatGPT in Human Eval-style coding benchmarks. 

Where Grok 4 Feels Like a Game-Changer 

1. Academic, Math, and STEM Logic. It excels at step-by-step reasoning in technical fields. 
2. Real-Time Intelligence meaning live search is integrated into the core model, not just an add-on. 
3. Multi-Agent Accuracy with Grok 4 Heavy’s “AI debate” system improves accuracy for complex, high-stakes queries. 

But Then There’s the Flip Side… 

1. Visual & Spatial Reasoning Lags Behind – Gemini and GPT-4o still lead here. 
2. Creative Output Feels Flat – Grok 4 is strong in logic, but not so much in imagination. 
3. Code May Need Debugging – It’s quick and robust but not always production-ready. 
4. Bias Toward Musk’s Own Content – It has a tendency to utilize Musk’s X posts. 
5. Safety Concerns Linger – Early issues with harmful outputs have been “fixed,” but no formal safety docs yet. 

Who Should Actually Use Grok 4? 

Is It Worth the Hype (and the Price)? 

Now that there’s a free trial period, there’s no reason not to try Grok 4 yourself.  Just remember the daily limits. If you like what you see, the premium versions (especially Grok 4 Heavy) can deliver serious ROI for research-heavy or accuracy-critical work. 

For most casual users, GPT-4o or Gemini may still be the better fit; but Musk’s latest move puts Grok 4 firmly in the conversation. 

Brought to You by Total PC 

This insight into Grok 4 is provided by Total PC, your partner in keeping your business ahead of the curve. Whether you’re exploring AI adoption, tightening network security, or developing custom tools, we’ve got you covered. 

We provide network support, VoIP services, AI solutions and insight, and custom development for industries including: 

• Healthcare 

• Manufacturing 

• Financial services 

📞 Call: 386.868.2572
🌐 Contact us: totalpc.com/contact-us

In August 2025, OpenAI released ChatGPT-5, its most advanced version yet. Unlike earlier models, this one is better at remembering information, thinking through complex problems, and working with text, pictures, and sound all at once. For companies, that means an AI that feels less like a chatbot and more like a real assistant that can actually help with day-to-day work. 

Key Improvements 

ChatGPT-5 makes conversations smoother and more useful, especially when things get complicated. 

– Smarter Answers: It can decide when a quick reply is enough and when to slow down and think through a tough problem step by step. 

– Much Better Memory: It can keep track of far more information in a single conversation, like reading an entire book or report and still remembering the first page when you ask about the last. 

– Understands More Than Text: You can show it a chart, picture, or even use voice, and it can respond naturally better than before. 

– Takes Action: It can now connect with calendars, email, or other apps to get things done (like scheduling a meeting or drafting a reply), though that requires a expensive subscription. 

– More Reliable: It makes fewer mistakes and is more likely to say “I don’t know” instead of making something up, but it still makes mistakes from time to time, so you still need to be aware of that and sometimes ask it to double-check it’s response. 

– Adapts Its Tone: You can set it to sound formal, friendly, or casual, and it will stick to that style consistently. 

Why This Matters for Business 

These upgrades translate into practical benefits for almost any organization. 

– Customer Support: Can answer detailed customer questions instantly using all your manuals and FAQs. 

– Marketing & Content: Creates social posts, product descriptions, or newsletters that fit your company’s style. 

– Routine Tasks: Pulls numbers from a spreadsheet, writes a quick report, and even sends an email, all in one go. 

– Decision Help: Reads long reports and highlights the important points so managers can act faster. 

– IT and Office Help: Can assist with simple coding, fixing formulas, or automating repetitive computer work. 

– Global Reach: Translates messages smoothly, keeping the meaning and tone across languages. 

How It Compares to Others 

GPT-5 now sits at the front of the AI pack, but each competitor has its niche. 

– Grok 4 (Musk’s AI): Good at tough math and live internet search. But memory is smaller, and it’s less creative. 

– Google Gemini: Strong with pictures and built into Google tools. Not as sharp in problem-solving. 

– Claude (Anthropic): Polite and cautious, good for long documents. GPT-5 now matches or surpasses it in most areas. 

Things to Watch Out For 

Even with all the progress, GPT-5 isn’t perfect. 

– Still Makes Mistakes: It’s better, but you still need to double-check important answers. 

– Outdated Knowledge: Its training only goes up to late 2024 unless you connect it to live search. 

– Privacy Matters: Safe by default, but you shouldn’t feed it sensitive customer or financial details unless you’re using the enterprise version. 

– Free vs Paid Plans: The free version is fine for small tasks, but bigger jobs (like reading long reports) require a paid plan and some features are locked behind the pro subscription. 

– Learning Curve: Staff need some practice on how to ask the AI questions and how to review its answers. 

– Not a Human: It can draft a contract or health tip, but it’s not a lawyer or doctor, experts still need to be involved. Sometimes it will be spot on, sometimes way off. 

How to Get Started 

The best way to adopt GPT-5 is to start small and grow from there. 

– Choose Simple Tasks: Customer emails, social media posts, or first-draft reports. 

– Run a Trial: Test it in one team for a month and track results. 

– Train Your Staff: Show them how to ask clear questions and check answers. 

– Plug It In: Use it inside tools you already use, like Microsoft Word, Excel, or Outlook. 

– Review and Improve: Gather feedback, refine how it’s used, and set rules for what AI can and cannot do. 

– Stay Curious: AI changes fast, keep an eye on updates and new features. In a few months, everything might have changed. 

– In plain terms: ChatGPT-5 is more capable, more reliable, and more practical than past versions or most competitors. Used wisely, it can save time, improve service, and help people make better decisions without replacing human judgment. 

📞 Call: 386.868.2572
🌐 Contact us: totalpc.com/contact-us 

🧙‍♂️ And why it’s not just hype… but also not magic

Artificial Intelligence (AI) isn’t just for Silicon Valley giants anymore. Today, small and medium-sized businesses are using A.I. to automate repetitive tasks, boost productivity, and even improve customer service.

But with great power comes… great data risks. 🕵️‍♂️

At Total PC, we’re seeing more of our clients explore A.I. tools and we’ve put together this guide to help you do it the smart way.

✅ What A.I. Can Do for Your Business Right Now

1. Save Time on Everyday Tasks
AI can automate everything from scheduling emails to generating reports or responding to routine customer questions. Tools like ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot are becoming mainstream in office environments.

2. Enhance Customer Service
Smart chatbots or automated phone menus powered by AI can reduce wait times and improve your customers’ experience—even when your human staff is offline.

3. Smarter Document Management
AI-powered systems can search, sort, and classify documents much faster than a human, which can save hours every week for teams that handle a lot of files.

🚧 What You Need to Watch Out For

1. Data Privacy & Compliance Risks
Most AI tools rely on feeding in data, and that can mean customer info, passwords, or business IP. If you’re not careful, you could be sending sensitive info to third-party systems without realizing it.

2. Over-Automation
AI should assist your staff, not replace them entirely. Handing over too much to automation too fast can create problems that are hard to untangle—especially with customer interactions.

3. The Learning Curve
Every tool has a setup process and a learning phase. Don’t expect overnight results. Without proper training or integration support, AI can become shelfware (software no one actually uses).

4. Future-Proofing your Data
When you upload your data to an online platform, remember this: you may be giving up control of it forever.
Even if today’s A.I. tools promise security, that data is stored somewhere, and as technology evolves, so do the risks to that saved data. For example, quantum computing is already on the horizon. And while it may bring breakthroughs, it could also make today’s encryption obsolete overnight.
That means files you thought were secure in 2025… might be wide open in 2026.

🔐 The takeaway? Always assume that anything you share with third-party A.I. systems could one day be exposed. Plan accordingly—and keep sensitive info local when possible.

💡 Should You Use AI In Your Business?

Short answer: Yes—but with guardrails.

Before you adopt any A.I. platform, ask:

• What data will this tool access?

• Who will manage and monitor its usage?

• How does this align with our current security policies?

🛠️ How Total PC Can Help

We help our clients:

• Evaluate A.I. tools before adopting them

• Train staff on how to use them efficiently and securely

• Set up safe usage policies and permissions

• Ensure data privacy and compliance with industry standards

Whether you’re just testing the waters or ready to roll out AI company-wide, we’re here to make sure you do it safely—and get your money’s worth.

👉 Ready to explore how A.I. could benefit your business?
Let’s talk about what makes sense for your size, industry, and goals.

📅 Schedule a Free A.I. Consultation