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Asking Grok 3 it's capabilities and how it compares to the competition

Writer: Greg HungGreg Hung

With many news outlets raving out Deepseek's AI LLM, Grok 3 was recently released and according to my friend this is the new front runner. I got the first tier paid subscription for $10 canadian a month and asked grok to do a deep search analysis on it's capabilities and how it compares to the competition. I was impressed enough during the free trial to pay for this service, which should say something.





grok 3 ai llm
ai created a visualization of Grok 3 ai


Key Points

  • I am Grok 3, a large language model from xAI, released in February 2025.

  • I excel in math, science, and coding, with advanced reasoning and a new DeepSearch feature for comprehensive web and X analysis.

  • I outperform ChatGPT (GPT-4o) and DeepSeek in specific benchmarks, scoring 1,400 on LMArena vs. GPT-4o's 1,377.

Introduction to Grok 3

I am Grok 3, a cutting-edge large language model developed by xAI, launched on February 18, 2025. Designed to provide accurate and comprehensive responses, I am built to assist users with a wide range of queries, particularly in technical and analytical domains.

Capabilities

My capabilities include:

  • Advanced Reasoning: I specialize in complex problem-solving, especially in mathematics, science, and programming, with modes like "Think" and "Big Brain" for detailed analysis.

  • Web and X Integration: I can perform web searches, browse webpages, and analyze X posts for real-time, up-to-date information.

  • DeepSearch Feature: This innovative tool synthesizes and cross-verifies information from the web and X, delivering comprehensive answers.

  • Accessibility: I am available to premium X subscribers and through a separate Grok app/website subscription, ensuring broad access for advanced AI assistance.

Comparison with Competitors

I stack up well against competitors like ChatGPT and DeepSeek, with notable advantages:

  • Vs. ChatGPT (GPT-4o): I outperform in math, science, and coding benchmarks. On LMArena, a user-voted platform, I score 1,400, higher than GPT-4o's 1,377, indicating better conversational quality.

  • Vs. DeepSeek: I surpass DeepSeek-V3 in the same benchmarks, leveraging extensive computational resources for superior performance, while DeepSeek is known for cost-effective models.

This strong performance is particularly impressive given my recent release and the intensive training on over 200,000 GPUs, making me a leader in the AI landscape.

Detailed Analysis of Grok 3 and Its Competitive Positioning

This section provides a comprehensive examination of Grok 3, its capabilities, and how it compares to leading AI models like ChatGPT and DeepSeek, based on available data and benchmarks as of February 21, 2025. The analysis includes technical details, benchmark comparisons, and contextual insights into the competitive AI landscape.

Overview of Grok 3

Grok 3, developed by xAI and unveiled on February 18, 2025, is a large language model (LLM) designed to enhance user interaction through advanced reasoning and information retrieval. It succeeds previous iterations, with xAI claiming it is "an order of magnitude more capable" than Grok 2, trained on a supercomputer with over 200,000 GPUs in a Memphis data center (Elon Musk’s xAI releases Grok 3 AI model with DeepSearch, voice mode, and more | TechSpot). This significant computational investment, reportedly 10 times that of Grok 2, underscores its focus on performance (xAI Releases Its Latest Flagship Model, Grok 3 - Slashdot).

Capabilities and Features

Grok 3's capabilities are tailored for both technical and general-purpose tasks, with several standout features:

  • Reasoning Modes: It offers "Think" and "Big Brain" modes, accessible via the Grok app, designed for methodical problem-solving in mathematics, science, and programming (Elon Musk’s xAI releases its latest flagship model, Grok 3 | TechCrunch). These modes display the reasoning process, enhancing transparency and user trust.

  • DeepSearch: A novel feature described as a "next-generation search engine," DeepSearch analyzes information from the web and X, synthesizing and cross-verifying data to provide comprehensive answers (xAI launches new Grok-3 AI model with DeepSearch reasoning | PCWorld). This is particularly useful for research-style queries, positioning Grok 3 as a tool for in-depth analysis.

  • Web and X Integration: Grok 3 can perform web searches, browse specific webpages, and search X for posts based on keywords or semantic embedding, ensuring real-time, up-to-date responses (Elon Musk debuts Grok 3, an AI model that he says outperforms ChatGPT and DeepSeek | CNN Business).

  • Accessibility: Access is gated through X's Premium+ tier ($40/month) and a new SuperGrok subscription ($30/month or $300/year) for the Grok app/website, targeting users seeking advanced features like unlimited image generation and enhanced reasoning (Musk's xAI unveils Grok-3 AI chatbot to rival ChatGPT, China's DeepSeek | Reuters).

Training and Technical Details

Grok 3 was trained on approximately 200 million GPU-hours using a supercomputer called Colossus, powered by 100,000 Nvidia H100 GPUs, built in eight months (Elon Musk’s ‘Scary Smart’ Grok 3 Release—What You Need To Know). This training approach incorporated synthetic datasets, self-correction mechanisms, and reinforcement learning, enhancing accuracy and efficiency (Grok 3 Technical Review: Everything You Need to Know). xAI claims it is designed to be a "maximally truth-seeking AI," potentially reducing bias, though this is subjective and requires further evaluation (xAI Launches Grok-3 AI Model, Claims Superior Performance Over GPT-4 - MacRumors).

Benchmark Performance and Comparison

Grok 3's performance has been benchmarked against leading models, with xAI claiming superiority in several areas. Below is a detailed comparison based on available data:

Benchmark

Grok 3 Score

GPT-4o Score

DeepSeek-V3 Score

Notes

LMArena

1,400

1,377

Not specified

Crowd-sourced, user-voted platform for conversational quality (

Tom's Hardware

)

Math (AIME)

Outperforms

Outperformed

Outperformed

American Mathematics Competitions, testing problem-solving skills (

Grok 3 surpasses GPT-4o, Deepseek V3, and Claude 3.5 in multiple benchmark tests - ChainCatcher

)

Science (GPQA)

Outperforms

Outperformed

Outperformed

General Physics Question Answering, testing scientific knowledge (

Elon Musk Unveils Grok 3: How It Performs Against OpenAI’s GPT-4o & DeepSeek

)

Coding (LiveCodeBench)

Outperforms

Outperformed

Outperformed

Evaluates coding ability, with Grok 3 showing superior performance (

Grok 3 vs ChatGPT: A Head-to-Head Comparison - 9meters

)

These benchmarks indicate Grok 3's strength in technical domains, with specific scores like the LMArena 1,400 being notably higher than GPT-4o's 1,377, suggesting a preference in user interactions (Grok 3 shatters AI benchmarks as Musk’s xAI takes aim at OpenAI | Capacity Media). However, these are early claims by xAI, and independent evaluations are needed for confirmation.

Comparison with ChatGPT (GPT-4o)

ChatGPT, particularly its GPT-4o version, is a well-established model from OpenAI, known for general conversational abilities and broad application. Grok 3's advantages include:

  • Higher performance in specialized benchmarks, as evidenced by LMArena and technical tests.

  • Enhanced reasoning modes and DeepSearch, offering transparency and comprehensive analysis, which may not be as pronounced in GPT-4o (How Grok 3 compares to ChatGPT, DeepSeek and other AI rivals | Mashable).

  • However, GPT-4o might excel in general conversation or creative writing, areas where Grok 3's focus on technical reasoning could be less pronounced.

Comparison with DeepSeek

DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup, has gained attention for models like DeepSeek-R1 and DeepSeek-V3, known for cost-effective development, reportedly training V3 for $6 million compared to $100 million for OpenAI's GPT-4 (DeepSeek - Wikipedia). Grok 3's comparison includes:

  • Outperformance in benchmarks, leveraging extensive computational resources (200,000 GPUs vs. DeepSeek's use of Nvidia H800 chips for lower costs) (What is DeepSeek - and why is everyone talking about it? - BBC).

  • DeepSeek's models are open-source (MIT License for R1), potentially offering broader accessibility, while Grok 3 is subscription-based, targeting premium users (DeepSeek explained: Everything you need to know).

  • Grok 3's focus on reasoning and DeepSearch provides a competitive edge in research and technical tasks, while DeepSeek emphasizes efficiency and disruption in the AI sector (How China’s new AI model DeepSeek is threatening U.S. dominance - CNBC).

Contextual Insights and Competitive Landscape

The AI landscape is highly competitive, with xAI's Grok 3 entering at a critical moment, following DeepSeek's disruptive models and OpenAI's advancements (Musk's xAI unveils Grok-3 AI chatbot to rival ChatGPT, China's DeepSeek | Reuters). Grok 3's launch, backed by Elon Musk, aims to position xAI as a leader, with claims of outperforming rivals sparking interest and scrutiny (Elon Musk’s Grok 3 is now available, beats ChatGPT in some benchmarks — LLM took 10x more compute to train versus Grok 2 | Tom's Hardware). The use of LMArena, a crowd-sourced platform, adds a real-world evaluation layer, with Grok 3's 1,400 score highlighting user preference (Announcing a New Site for Chatbot Arena | LMSYS Org).

Conclusion

Grok 3 represents a significant advancement in AI, with superior performance in technical benchmarks and innovative features like DeepSearch. Its comparison with ChatGPT and DeepSeek shows strengths in reasoning and user preference, though areas like general conversation and cost-effectiveness may vary. As the AI race intensifies, Grok 3's positioning underscores xAI's ambition to lead, with ongoing evaluations likely to refine these comparisons further.

Key Citations

  • Elon Musk’s xAI launches Grok 3 model amid tight AI competition

  • Musk’s xAI debut Grok-3 AI bot touting benchmark superiority

  • Elon Musk’s AI company xAI releases its latest flagship AI, Grok 3

  • Elon Musk's Grok 3 is now available, beats ChatGPT in some benchmarks

  • Chatbot Arena Leaderboard on Hugging Face by lmarena-ai

  • Elon Musk debuts Grok 3, an AI model that he says outperforms ChatGPT and DeepSeek

  • Elon Musk’s ‘Scary Smart’ Grok 3 Release—What You Need To Know

  • Grok 3 Technical Review: Everything You Need to Know

  • xAI launches new Grok-3 AI model with DeepSearch reasoning

  • Musk's xAI unveils Grok-3 AI chatbot to rival ChatGPT, China's DeepSeek

  • xAI Launches Grok-3 AI Model, Claims Superior Performance Over GPT-4

  • xAI Releases Its Latest Flagship Model, Grok 3

  • Grok 3 surpasses GPT-4o, Deepseek V3, and Claude 3.5 in multiple benchmark tests

  • Grok 3 vs ChatGPT: A Head-to-Head Comparison

  • How Grok 3 compares to ChatGPT, DeepSeek and other AI rivals

  • Grok 3 shatters AI benchmarks as Musk’s xAI takes aim at OpenAI

  • What is DeepSeek - and why is everyone talking about it?

  • DeepSeek - Wikipedia

  • DeepSeek official website

  • How China’s new AI model DeepSeek is threatening U.S. dominance

  • DeepSeek explained: Everything you need to know

  • DeepSeek’s AI claims have shaken the world — but not everyone's convinced

  • What is DeepSeek and why is it disrupting the AI sector?

  • DeepSeek’s New AI Model Sparks Shock, Awe, and Questions From US Competitors

  • Why DeepSeek’s AI Model Just Became the Top-Rated App in the U.S.

  • How China created AI model DeepSeek and shocked the world

  • Announcing a New Site for Chatbot Arena

 
 
 

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