SpaceXAI is removing the Grok AI companions feature

SpaceXAI is removing the Grok AI companions feature, which hasn’t received much attention over the past few months.

Analyst Aaron has found new code strings in the Grok iOS app, including the following:

• Companion will no longer be available after
• Companions will soon be retired from the Grok app
• We’re saying goodbye to Companions

These lines indicate that the company won’t immediately cut Companions; instead, it will have a date or a version.

Companions

In July 2025, xAI (now SpaceXAI) introduced companions including 3D animated models powered by Grok’s latest large language model (LLM). Initially, there was only one companion – Ani, who was popularized on the social media platform for its unique look.

Ani has an anime-style look with matching attire, and she can reply with a gentle voice and facial as well as body expressions. The feature quickly picked up pace among Grok users.

Ani Grok AI Companion

The company then started enabling customizations to its appearance through custom outfits, hair, and background. However, Ani became so popular that her NSFW content started raising questions on xAI’s user safety policy. The company later put her behind the 18+ access, but the damage was done.

That didn’t stop the company from introducing new companions. These were Mika, Valentine, Good and Bad Rudi, but they don’t share explicit appearances like Ani. Instead, they focus on providing a different experience, like Mika, who’s young and provides friends like talk.

All was going well until January, when xAI removed the Grok companion mode from the home screen, placing it in the side menu. Since then, the feature was left in the cold bag, and there was no major update for its future.

Conclusion

Despite its alleged downsides, Grok companions is and will be an innovative feature that no other AI company has ever brought to users. However, as SpaceXAI is moving Grok toward a broader user base, it needs to keep its environment clean and less controversial.

Also, the latest models are capable of providing the same level of support as companions. However, a visual representation will be missed for sure.

For now, SpaceXAI hasn’t said anything about removing the companions from the Grok iOS app, but I will keep you posted.