First Image-Capable API: xAI’s new grok-2-image-1212 API enables text-to-image generation, a first for the company.
Competitive Pricing: At $0.07 per image, it’s pricier than Google’s Imagen 3 ($0.03) but cheaper than Ideogram ($0.08).
Developer Focus: Fifth API release since November 2024, signaling xAI’s push into developer tools.
No Customization: Users cannot adjust image quality, size, or style.
OpenAI SDK Compatibility: Works with OpenAI’s base_url but not Anthropic’s tools.
Elon Musk’s xAI has rolled out its first image-generating API, grok-2-image-1212marking a strategic expansion into multimodal AI tools for developers.
Priced at $0.07 per image, the API leverages the MoE-based Aurora model, replacing Black Forest Labs’ earlier integration.
While competitors like Google and Ideogram offer cheaper or pricier alternatives, xAI’s offering stands out with OpenAI SDK compatibility, enabling seamless integration for existing users.
However, the API lacks output customization—users cannot tweak image dimensions, styles, or resolution. Developers can generate 10 images per request but face a 5-request/second limit. xAI’s documentation confirms the API revises user prompts via a chat model before generating JPEG outputs, streamlining workflow efficiency.
This launch follows xAI’s release of four Grok-based APIs, underscoring its focus on empowering developers despite premium pricing.
With Aurora now in-house, xAI aims to reduce reliance on third-party models while competing in the booming AI image-generation market.
