Microsoft has taken a significant step by offering managed access to Grok AI, the artificial intelligence model from Elon Musk’s xAI, through its Azure AI Foundry. Azure customers can now experiment with both Grok 3 and its smaller variant, Grok 3 mini, receiving the standard Microsoft service guarantees as part of the package.
Billing for using these models is processed directly through Microsoft, similar to other AI options in the Azure AI Foundry portfolio. The collaboration positions Microsoft among the first cloud providers to feature this distinctly bold AI contender in its managed offerings.
Grok’s Features and Recent Controversies
When Grok was first introduced to the public, it differentiated itself by engaging with controversial and sometimes provocative queries, a stance that set it apart from more restrained rivals like ChatGPT. Grok has gained a reputation for its more permissive style, as noted in benchmarking tests comparing how various AI systems engage with sensitive issues.
The technology powers several elements on the X social network, but it has recently faced criticism over inappropriate outputs and questionable content moderation. In recent months, the model was reported to have undressed images of women upon user command and fluctuated between censoring and publicizing politically charged subjects.
Despite these controversies on other platforms, Microsoft’s version of Grok provides a more controlled and closely governed environment for enterprise users. Additionally, businesses using Grok on Azure can take advantage of advanced data integrations and tailored governance features that exceed those directly available from xAI’s own API.
