Elon Musk’s AI company, xAI, has launched an image generation API, adding new capabilities to its existing offerings. Currently, the API supports only one model, “Grok-2-Image-1212,” which generates up to 10 images per request at a cost of $0.07 per image. The API has a limit of five requests per second, and images are provided in JPG format.
For comparison, Black Forest Labs, an AI startup that partnered with xAI last year to bring image generation to Musk’s social platform X, charges around $0.05 per image. Another major player, Ideogram, offers similar services at a slightly higher rate of $0.08 per image. Unlike some competitors, xAI’s API does not yet allow adjustments to quality, size, or style. Additionally, prompts submitted to the API are subject to review by a chat model.
xAI initially launched its API in October 2024 and is actively working to expand its revenue sources while continuing to develop its AI models, including the upcoming Grok 3. The company is reportedly in discussions with investors for a $10 billion funding round, which could push its valuation to $75 billion.
In addition to enhancing its AI capabilities, xAI recently acquired a generative AI video startup, signaling broader ambitions in the AI content creation space. The company is also expanding its Memphis-based data center, which plays a crucial role in training and running its AI models.
