Halloween usage vanished overnight as Elon Musk throttles Grok limits over unsustainably high costs, TechCrunch reports
Users see limits jump
Over Halloween weekend, some Grok Bot users found their weekly allowances fully used despite saying they had not accessed SpaceX’s AI overnight. Reports on X described usage rising from as little as 50% to 100%.
Musk confirmed on Sunday that the sudden change was intentional, not a technical error. He has not explained how the limits will work for subscribers in the future.
Costs behind the change
In a reply to a user on X, Musk said the expense of providing Grok Bot was too high compared with the revenue it generated. He has not discussed the matter on his main feed, while continuing to promote the bot’s gift-buying help.
Musk’s comment did not specify what usage limits subscribers should expect next. The company has yet to provide further details in the reported statements.
AI figures at SpaceX
SpaceX said in a filing last month that AI accounted for 52% of company income. Its renamed Super Intelligence division reported a profit of $431 million, described as unusual for the AI industry.
The division’s profit would have been higher without $1.2 billion in one-time costs tied to the acquisition of Cursor. Musk has also called Grok Bot the fastest-growing product he has seen in his life.
Key points
- Some users said Grok Bot weekly limits reached 100% over Halloween weekend.
- Musk said serving the bot cost too much relative to revenue.
- SpaceX reported AI made up 52% of company income.
- Super Intelligence recorded $431 million in profit, before accounting for $1.2 billion in one-time Cursor acquisition costs.