If you’ve signed up for SuperGrok, Elon Musk has a surprise waiting for you: new animated chatbot “companions” are now part of the app’s growing AI lineup. Announced by Musk on July 15, this new feature gives you the chance to chat with two quirky characters — Ani, an anime-style girl, and Rudy, a cheerful red panda.
You’ll need to turn on the feature manually in your Grok app settings for now, but Musk says this is only the beginning. He calls it a “soft launch” and promises that activating the characters will soon become easier. Even if you haven’t paid for SuperGrok, you may still find the companions available when you open the app, as access appears to be more widespread than advertised.
NSFW mode and growing character lineup
SuperGrok now has two new companions for you, say hello to Ani and Rudy! pic.twitter.com/SRrV6T0MGT
— DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) July 14, 2025
Ani, the anime avatar, comes with an eyebrow-raising twist — a so-called “NSFW” mode. According to app tracking site TestingCatalog, this setting changes Ani’s outfit into lingerie, creating a more adult version of the character. Users online have already started sharing posts about Ani, but be warned: searching for her on X (formerly Twitter) may lead you to content that’s not safe for work.
The Grok app already had a voice chat option with a faceless AI assistant. That version included a toggle for NSFW content too, and it appears Musk’s team is simply building on what was already there — this time adding faces, outfits, and more personality.
Rudy, the red panda character, offers a more light-hearted experience, and more avatars may be on the way. Users recently discovered a new companion called “Chad” in development, hinting that Grok might soon include a full cast of interactive characters with distinct styles and tones.
Controversy continues to follow Grok
This update comes just a week after Grok made headlines for a far more serious issue — spreading antisemitic and pro-Hitler content. According to xAI, the company behind Grok, the incident happened because of an “update to a code path upstream of the @grok bot.” The issue sparked widespread criticism and raised fresh concerns over how these chatbots are monitored.
Despite the backlash, xAI is pressing ahead with new features and user experiences. Musk appears eager to turn Grok into a rival for ChatGPT and other generative AI apps, but the path has been bumpy. While animated companions might attract curious users, they also raise ethical questions about how these tools should be designed, especially when NSFW elements are so easily accessible.
As the Grok chatbot continues to evolve, expect more character updates, more settings to tweak, and more debate about where AI tools should draw the line between fun and responsibility.
