You can’t make a new xAI API request that runs Grok 3 as Grok 3. xAI retired the grok-3 API model on May 15, 2026. Requests using that old model ID are redirected to grok-4.3, so they no longer run the original Grok 3 model. If you want to use Grok as a chat assistant, use the current Grok product on the web or in its mobile apps. If you need an API, choose a currently listed model explicitly instead of relying on the retired ID. (docs.x.ai)
Choose how you want to use Grok
- For interactive questions, writing, or file analysis: use Grok at
grok.comor its iOS and Android apps. The official overview says Grok is available on those platforms and is free to start; paid plans raise usage limits. It does not establish that you can select the retired Grok 3 model in the interface. (docs.x.ai) - For an application or automated workflow: use the xAI API with a model currently listed in its documentation. The current quickstart demonstrates
grok-4.7. (docs.x.ai) - If your code already says
grok-3: update the model field deliberately. After retirement, that slug routes togrok-4.3with no reasoning effort, and requests are billed atgrok-4.3rates—not at the old model’s rates. (docs.x.ai)
Use Grok in the web or mobile app
- Open Grok at
grok.comor install the official iOS or Android app, then sign in. - Start a chat and describe the task, context, constraints, and format you want.
- Review the answer. If it misses something, ask a focused follow-up—for example, “Keep the same facts, but make the answer a five-item checklist.”
- If you need a particular model version, don’t assume the chat interface is using Grok 3. The current product overview describes Grok on web and mobile but does not document a way to select Grok 3. (
docs.x.ai)
Example prompt:
Turn these meeting notes into a concise action list. Keep each task tied to a named owner and deadline. Mark missing owners or dates as “not specified”; do not guess. Return a table with Task, Owner, and Due date.
Check that the list preserves the original owners and deadlines. Compare it against the notes before sharing or acting on it, especially when a missed detail would matter.
Make a first API request with a current model
The following is an xAI API example using the current grok-4.7 model shown in xAI’s quickstart. It does not call Grok 3. The documented steps are to create an account, add API credits, create an API key, and send a request to the Responses endpoint. (docs.x.ai)
- Create an API account and key in the xAI Console, and add credits.
- Set the key as an environment variable. Keep it secret; don’t put a real key into code you share or commit to source control.
export XAI_API_KEY="your_api_key"
- Send a test request with
curl:
curl https://api.x.ai/v1/responses \
-H "Authorization: Bearer $XAI_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
"model": "grok-4.7",
"input": "Explain what an API is in two sentences."
}'
The documented endpoint is /v1/responses; the quickstart uses the model and input fields. A successful response contains a generated response, and the API reference describes a status field such as completed, in_progress, or incomplete. Inspect the returned status and output rather than assuming every request completed successfully. (docs.x.ai)
For a real application, handle API errors, monitor usage and billing, and choose the model explicitly. The API model list can change; check it when selecting a model for a new workload. (docs.x.ai)
A reusable prompt pattern—and how to check the answer
Use this structure with either the chat interface or an API prompt:
Task: [what you need done]
Context: [relevant source material or background]
Constraints: [length, audience, exclusions, or rules]
Output: [format you want]
Uncertainty: If information is missing, say so instead of inventing it.
For example, to summarize a policy, provide the policy text, ask for a short summary for a specified audience, and request a separate list of exceptions or unclear points. Then check important claims against the source text. A model’s answer—or any claimed self-check—doesn’t replace checking consequential facts yourself.
If you specifically need Grok 3
The xAI API retirement notice says that grok-3 requests made after May 15, 2026 are served by grok-4.3 with no reasoning effort and billed at grok-4.3 rates. Check xAI’s current model listing for pricing. For predictable behavior and billing, change the model ID to the model you actually intend to use and review its current model listing. (docs.x.ai)
The supplied official documentation confirms that Grok is available through web and mobile chat and that current API models are documented. It does not confirm that Grok 3 remains selectable in the chat interface. If you need the original Grok 3 model specifically, the documented API retirement means the old grok-3 slug is not a way to access it.