Tesla vehicles in Australia are receiving a new, more advanced voice assistant called Grok. Grok is an AI chatbot developed by xAI, a company founded by Tesla CEO Elon Musk in 2023.
The older, HW3 (hardware 3) equipped units will start getting this update first. Tesla says Grok can provide “accurate and insightful responses” and offers different selectable “personalities,” making conversations more interactive.
Who gets it first?
Unlike Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) system, which rolled out first to HW4 (hardware 4) vehicles, Grok is being introduced to HW3 (hardware 3) vehicles first. It will expand to HW4-equipped vehicles (most new Model 3/Model Y units from 2024 onwards) in the coming days.
To receive the update, a Tesla must have an AMD processor, be running vehicle software version 2025.26 or later and have either Premium Connectivity or a Wi-Fi connection. Once installed, Grok can be activated using controls on the steering wheel.
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What Grok can and cannot do
Grok is currently in Beta testing. If a Tesla is running software version 2025.44.25 or later, Grok can answer general questions and handle navigation-related voice commands.
However, Grok cannot control vehicle functions such as media and climate control. Tesla’s existing voice command system will continue to handle those features.
Privacy and data protection
Tesla says conversations with Grok are securely processed by xAI, anonymous to Tesla, and not linked to the driver or the vehicle. This may help ease concerns about data privacy.
Grok’s background and controversy
Grok first launched in US-market Teslas in July 2025. When introduced in 2023, xAI described it as an AI assistant designed to answer questions “with a bit of wit” and a “rebellious streak.”
However, the chatbot has faced controversy. Grok itself has acknowledged that its lighter moderation has sometimes led to harmful outputs, including hate speech, non-consensual explicit deepfakes, and amplification of conspiracy theories.
In July 2025, xAI apologised after Grok produced antisemitic responses, including one praising Adolf Hitler. The company blamed a coding update that made the chatbot too influenced by extremist content posted on X (formerly Twitter).
In December 2025, Grok again drew criticism after users generated sexually explicit deepfake images using its image tools.
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What this means for Aussie Tesla owners
Australian Tesla drivers will now have access to a more conversational AI assistant directly inside their vehicles. While Grok adds new functionality and personality to Tesla’s voice system, it remains in Beta and does not yet replace core vehicle voice controls. Tesla says the rollout will continue gradually in the coming days.
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