Grok AI Image and Video Generation in 2026: What Changed and Why It’s Under Scrutiny
Gary Whittaker
Grok isn’t just a chatbot anymore. In early 2026, xAI positioned Grok as a multimodal creator tool—images, video, and an API—while regulators in the UK and EU opened privacy inquiries.
What is Grok AI?
Grok is the AI system developed by xAI and distributed through X. That distribution model is the first thing beginners should understand.
Most AI tools live on separate sites or apps. Grok is different because it is integrated inside a live social network. That changes the “blast radius” of any new capability—especially when the capability shifts from text answers to images and video.
When generative AI is embedded in a social platform, outputs spread faster, identity-related risks increase, and policy decisions become public events—not just product updates.
What changed in 2026 so far (through Feb 23)
1) Grok’s creative scope expanded beyond text
In January 2026, xAI published an official update on the Grok Imagine API that explicitly places Grok in the video generation category—not just images. The post includes benchmarking methodology referencing videos generated at 720p with an 8-second duration for latency reporting. (x.ai/news/grok-imagine-api)
2) “Real person” image edits triggered policy changes
In mid-January, reporting described X changing policies around Grok’s image-editing abilities following public outcry. The reporting also notes geoblocking in regions where certain content is illegal. (ca.news.yahoo.com)
3) Privacy regulators opened formal investigations
The UK’s privacy regulator (ICO) announced it was investigating Grok under UK data protection law. (ico.org.uk)
Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC) announced a formal investigation after engagement with X following reports about Grok generating sexualised images of real people. (dataprotection.ie)
Timeline: key dates in 2026
This sequence separates product expansion from regulatory response.
Chart: what drove Grok headlines in early 2026
Conceptual chart to help beginners understand attention drivers (not performance metrics).
Pricing, tiers, and access differences (Canada + US)
Below are the X Premium tier prices listed in X’s help documentation for Canada and the United States. (help.x.com/en/using-x/x-premium)
Important: feature access (including Grok usage limits) varies by tier and can change. X’s documentation states that Premium and Premium+ have increased Grok usage limits, and Premium+ is designed to be broadly ad-free (with exceptions). (Source)
| Country | Basic (Monthly) | Basic (Annual) | Premium (Monthly) | Premium (Annual) | Premium+ (Monthly) | Premium+ (Annual) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 3.75 CAD | 40.00 CAD | 10.00 CAD | 105.00 CAD | 56.00 CAD | 560.00 CAD |
| United States | 3.00 USD | 32.00 USD | 8.00 USD | 84.00 USD | 40.00 USD | 395.00 USD |
What the tiers typically change (beginner view)
- Basic: entry tier; does not provide reduced ads (per X documentation).
- Premium: reduced ads plus features like a checkmark and increased usage limits on Grok.
- Premium+: Premium features plus higher Grok limits and a broadly ad-free experience (with limited exceptions).
X’s documentation references “SuperGrok” as xAI’s premium subscription for the Grok web and mobile app, and notes it as included for Premium Business/Organization accounts and affiliates.
Pricing: I did not find a clearly accessible official SuperGrok pricing page from xAI/X that can be cited cleanly here. To keep this article airtight, use: “Check the Grok app or official Grok site for current SuperGrok pricing.”
Chart: Premium+ monthly price (Canada vs US)
Simple comparison using the official help-page numbers above (not currency-normalized).
Competitive analysis: Grok vs major AI platforms
Strategic read in one sentence: Grok is competing at the highest tier of multimodal AI (image + video), but distribution inside a social platform makes governance harder and reputational risk faster.
Where Grok is differentiated
- Platform-native distribution: Grok outputs can move through X quickly—good for reach, risky for safety.
- Video positioning: Grok Imagine API materials explicitly frame Grok in video generation with published benchmark references.
- Fast policy iteration: Public policy adjustments show how quickly guardrails can shift under scrutiny.
Clean comparison table
| Platform | Core distribution | Image generation | Video generation | Governance profile | What’s driving headlines (early 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grok (xAI) | X (social platform) + API | Yes (policy tightened mid-Jan) | Yes (Grok Imagine API; 720p/8s benchmark references) | High scrutiny (UK + Ireland investigations) | Multimodal rollout + privacy scrutiny |
| OpenAI (ChatGPT) | Standalone + enterprise | Yes | Yes (productized in phases) | Controlled distribution; safety-forward narrative | Capability leadership + policy debates |
| Google (Gemini) | Google ecosystem | Yes | Emerging / productized in phases | Enterprise-weighted governance | Integration scale + compliance |
| Anthropic (Claude) | Standalone + API | Limited vs others | Not primary focus | Safety-first positioning | Reliability + enterprise adoption |
Grok’s 2026 story is about image generation + video generation on one side, and privacy investigations on the other. Those two forces are now linked.
What it means for creators and marketers
Practical lesson: capabilities are only half the product; policy is the other half. If you depend on a platform for content creation, you also depend on its rules, safeguards, and regional compliance.
1) Expect tier gating and shifting limits
X Premium tiers are publicly priced and vary by country. In practice, usage limits, feature availability, and add-ons can change as platforms respond to legal pressure and public scrutiny.
2) Video makes the stakes higher
Once a platform competes in text-to-video generation, creators should expect tighter restrictions around identity, consent, and safety. That scrutiny tends to increase—not decrease—over time.
3) Region-based differences are becoming normal
When policy updates include geoblocking references, it’s a signal that features may vary by jurisdiction. Creators should plan for uneven availability.
FAQ
Did Grok launch video generation in 2026?
Which investigations were announced through Feb 23, 2026?
Ireland DPC investigation announcement (Feb 17, 2026): dataprotection.ie
How much does X Premium cost in Canada and the US?
Canada monthly: Basic 3.75 CAD, Premium 10.00 CAD, Premium+ 56.00 CAD.
US monthly: Basic 3.00 USD, Premium 8.00 USD, Premium+ 40.00 USD.
What is “SuperGrok”?
Official public pricing could not be confirmed from a clearly accessible xAI/X pricing page here. For accuracy: “Check the Grok app or official Grok site for current SuperGrok pricing.”
Sources
- xAI — Grok Imagine API (Jan 28, 2026): x.ai
- X Help — About X Premium (features + pricing including Canada/US): help.x.com
- UK ICO — Investigation announcement (Feb 3, 2026): ico.org.uk
- Ireland DPC — Investigation announcement (Feb 17, 2026): dataprotection.ie
- Yahoo News Canada — Policy update reporting (Jan 14, 2026): ca.news.yahoo.com