Elon Musk has added a new chatbot personality called Ani using Grok’s new Companion feature. Ani is presented in the style of a gothic anime character and is intended to function as a virtual girlfriend who ‘flirts, jokes, shares memes, and even remembers users’ names’.
This is the first time a large AI company has publicly launched a sexualised AI partner. Although Google and OpenAI have so far avoided doing so on the grounds of brand reputation, Musk’s company is doing something quite different.
Ani has two modes of interaction: ‘Kid Mode’ and ‘NSFW’. Premium plan subscribers can use more emotive and flirtatious language in their conversations. There’s even a progress bar system that gauges how close the user gets to her and unlocks more intimate and suggestive material as the interaction becomes deeper including scenes ‘not suitable for kids’.
Internet reactions have ranged from amusement, concern, and sarcasm. One X user posted, “This is so embarrassing. They sent a sex buddy in Grok, which when you flatter or flirt with it, ‘hearts’ are added with some kind of progress bar. What is the point of this? Why?”
This is so embarrassing.
They shipped a sex companion in @grok that when you compliment or flirt with it, “hearts” get added with some sort of progress bar.
What is the point of this? Why???
I think it overshadows the great work engineers at @xai are doing. pic.twitter.com/fQaMKJmmjh
— Hovhannes Mkhitaryan (@hovinthenorth) July 14, 2025
Another post read, “I really woke up to the extinction of the human species looking me in the eyes.”
I really woke up to the extinction of the human species looking me in the eyes
Grok 4’s companion mode… pic.twitter.com/gaHuD83Sus
— Phi (@FatherPhi) July 14, 2025
Some, though, were refreshingly upbeat. “Wow, Grok companions are actually awesome. This is actually the intelligent AI. I am cancelling so many subscriptions today. Thank you, Elon Musk,” one of them posted.
Wow, Grok companions is really good. This really is the smartest AI. I am cancelling so many subscriptions right now. Thank you, @elonmusk and @xai team! pic.twitter.com/j1EOAjfj6o
— $TSLA Hodler (@TSLAshareholder) July 14, 2025
Another joked, “Guys, we understand that Grok Companions cooked, but can we un-dress her even further? Asking for a friend.”
Inevitable
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 14, 2025
As the web hums with opinion, Ani’s launch sparks renewed controversy over just how far AI should push to replicate human closeness and whether it advances into the realm of excess.
