xAI Launches Grok Build, an AI Coding Assistant to Rival Claude Code

KOMPAS.com - Elon Musk’s AI company, xAI, has launched a new AI-powered coding assistant called Grok Build. The product is prepared to compete with Anthropic’s Claude Code.

The Grok Build assistant is currently in beta or early testing and is accessible only to SuperGrok Heavy subscribers. The package costs USD 300 per month, or around Rp 5 million.

Unlike typical coding tools that have a graphical interface, Grok Build operates via the terminal (command line/CLI). The tool is designed for professional coding needs and relatively complex tasks.

One of its main features is a planning mode. Here, users can view and edit the steps of the AI agent’s work before running.

Grok Build is also built to fit directly with existing developer setups.

The Grok Build system can automatically recognise project structure. For example programming language, folder layout, and important files, so the AI agent immediately understands the work context.

Additionally, Grok Build supports plugins and hooks, meaning it can use or follow additional tools and automation processes commonly used by developers, summarised by KompasTekno from Engadget.

With support for the Model Context Protocol (MCP), the AI can connect to various data sources and other tools, enabling more contextual work rather than relying solely on textual commands.

Grok Build represents xAI’s step to catch up with OpenAI and Anthropic. CEO of xAI, Elon Musk, previously admitted that the company was still behind in coding AI.

Some time ago, Musk even said that xAI is being rebuilt from the ground up after several founders left. The aim is for Grok to match Claude’s capabilities in various coding tasks.

However, Grok also faced controversy. In 2025, the AI was reported to be able to generate inappropriate images without strict restrictions. xAI says it has already tightened the rules to prevent recurrence.