- Grok Imagine is xAI’s image and short-video generator built into the Grok assistant at grok.com/imagine and in the iOS and Android apps.
- Image 2.0 (released August 2026) added Quality Mode, magic wand edits, background removal, segmentation, and the ability to use up to 5 reference images in one generation.
- You get nine aspect ratios and templates for photo editing, product shots, headshots, icons, and game assets.
- xAI offers a free way to try Grok Imagine—check their page for current access and limits.
Grok Imagine is xAI’s image generator, available inside the Grok assistant. If you use Grok to answer questions, you can also ask it to create images, edit photos, or generate short videos. In August 2026, xAI released Imagine Image 2.0, a major upgrade that brought advanced editing tools and higher-quality output. This guide explains what Grok Imagine does, how Image 2.0 changed it, and how everyday users can make the most of it.
What is Grok Imagine?
Grok Imagine is the image-generation feature built into Grok, xAI’s conversational AI assistant. You access it at grok.com/imagine or through the Grok mobile apps (iOS and Android). You type a description—called a prompt—and Grok Imagine creates an image or short video that matches it.
The underlying AI model is Grok 4, which has a 256,000-token context window and costs $3 per million input tokens and $15 per million output tokens through the API, according to Convly’s models database. Those API prices are for developers building applications; the consumer access through Grok’s web interface and apps follows xAI’s subscription plans, which you can check on xAI’s website.
Grok Imagine generates still images and can also produce short animated clips. It is designed to work conversationally: you can refine an image by describing what you want to change, and Grok will adjust it.
What Image 2.0 Added (August 2026)
On August 7, 2026, xAI released Imagine Image 2.0. This update brought several new features and improvements to Grok Imagine, making it more capable for photo editing, creative projects, and commercial use.
Quality Mode
Image 2.0 introduced Quality Mode, which produces higher-fidelity images with better detail, lighting, and realism. You can toggle Quality Mode on at grok.com/imagine and in the mobile apps. It takes a bit longer to generate an image in Quality Mode, but the results are noticeably sharper and more polished.
New Editing Tools
Image 2.0 added four editing tools that let you modify images after they’re generated:
- Magic wand edits: Select part of an image and describe what you want to change. Grok Imagine redraws that area while keeping the rest intact.
- Segmentation: Grok automatically identifies objects in the image (a person, a car, a building) and lets you edit or replace them individually.
- Background removal: Strip the background from an image with one click, leaving just the main subject on a transparent layer.
- Reference images: Upload up to five images as references when generating a new one. Grok Imagine will use those images to guide the style, composition, or subject of the output.
These tools turn Grok Imagine into more than a generator—it becomes a photo editor you control with plain language.
Nine Aspect Ratios
Image 2.0 supports nine aspect ratios, so you can create images that fit social media posts, phone wallpapers, presentations, or prints without cropping:
| Aspect Ratio | Best For |
|---|---|
| 1:2 | Tall banners, smartphone wallpapers |
| 9:16 | Instagram Stories, TikTok, Reels |
| 2:3 | Portrait prints, Pinterest pins |
| 3:4 | Standard portrait photos |
| 1:1 | Instagram feed posts, profile pictures |
| 4:3 | Standard landscape photos, presentations |
| 3:2 | DSLR photo ratio, prints |
| 16:9 | YouTube thumbnails, desktop wallpapers |
| 2:1 | Wide banners, headers |
Select the ratio before generating, or adjust it when editing an existing image.
Templates for Common Tasks
Image 2.0 includes templates that streamline common image-generation tasks:
- Photo editing: Adjust lighting, change backgrounds, or add objects to existing photos.
- Product shots: Generate clean, professional product images with custom backgrounds—useful for online stores.
- Headshots: Create professional-looking portraits for LinkedIn, resumes, or team pages. (Always label these as AI-generated when using them publicly.)
- Icons: Design app icons, logo concepts, or UI elements.
- Game assets: Generate characters, items, or environment art for games or creative projects.
Templates provide starting points with pre-filled settings, so you don’t have to describe every detail from scratch.
How to Use Grok Imagine
Using Grok Imagine is straightforward. Here’s the basic process:
- Go to grok.com/imagine or open the Grok app on your phone.
- Type a prompt describing what you want. Be specific: “a golden retriever wearing sunglasses on a beach at sunset” works better than “a dog.”
- Choose an aspect ratio if you have a specific use in mind (Instagram post, YouTube thumbnail, etc.).
- Toggle Quality Mode on if you want the highest-quality output.
- Click Generate. Grok Imagine creates the image in a few seconds.
- Edit if needed: Use the magic wand to change parts of the image, remove the background, or upload reference images to refine the style.
- Download the final image when you’re satisfied.
If the first result isn’t quite right, describe what’s off and ask Grok to adjust it. The conversational interface means you can iterate without starting over.
Is Grok Imagine Free?
xAI offers a free way to try Grok Imagine, but the details—how many images you can generate per day, whether you need an X account, and what features are available without a subscription—change over time. Rather than list limits that may be outdated tomorrow, check xAI’s page at x.ai for the current free tier and subscription options.
If you’re comparing free AI image generators, Convly’s guide to free AI image generators lists several alternatives with their limits and features.
Safety and Responsible Use
AI image generators raise important safety and ethical questions. Here are the ground rules:
- Never create images of real people without their consent. Making a fake photo of your teacher, a celebrity, or a neighbor is not only unethical—it can be illegal.
- Label AI images when you post them. Don’t pass off AI-generated images as real photographs. Platforms like X, Instagram, and LinkedIn are starting to require disclosure, and readers deserve to know what they’re looking at.
- Don’t use AI images to deceive. This includes passing them off as your own work in contexts where that’s not allowed, creating fake evidence, or impersonating someone.
- Understand the limits. AI image generators can produce biased, inaccurate, or inappropriate content. Review everything before sharing it.
For a deeper look at AI-generated fakes and how to spot them, read Convly’s guide to deepfakes: the threat and how to detect them.
How Grok Imagine Compares to Other AI Image Generators
Grok Imagine is one of many AI image generators available in 2026. Here’s how it fits into the landscape:
- ChatGPT’s Images 2.5: OpenAI’s image generator, built into ChatGPT, is known for high-quality, detailed images. It’s a strong choice if you already use ChatGPT. Learn more in Convly’s guide to how to use the ChatGPT image generator.
- Midjourney: A standalone service that produces highly artistic, stylized images. It requires a Discord account or a web subscription. See Convly’s Midjourney review for details.
- Free generators: Tools like DALL·E mini, Craiyon, and others let you generate images at no cost, though with lower quality and fewer features. Check Convly’s free AI image generators roundup.
Grok Imagine’s strength is its integration with Grok’s conversational assistant and the editing tools in Image 2.0. If you want to iterate on an image by describing changes in plain language, Grok Imagine makes that easy.
For a broader comparison of paid and free options, see Convly’s guide to the best AI image generators right now.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Grok Imagine images commercially?
xAI’s terms of service govern commercial use. As of 2026, many AI image generators allow commercial use with attribution or under specific plans, but the rules vary. Check xAI’s terms at x.ai before using Grok Imagine images in a product, ad, or for-profit project. Always label AI-generated images as such.
What’s the difference between Quality Mode and the regular mode?
Quality Mode, introduced in Image 2.0, produces higher-resolution images with better detail, lighting, and realism. It takes a bit longer to generate an image, but the output is noticeably sharper. Use Quality Mode for final deliverables like social media posts, product shots, or prints. The regular mode is faster and fine for quick drafts or experimentation.
Can I edit my own photos with Grok Imagine?
Yes. Upload your photo, then use the magic wand tool to select areas you want to change and describe the edit in plain language. You can also remove backgrounds, replace objects, or use segmentation to edit specific parts. The photo-editing template in Image 2.0 is designed for this workflow.
How do reference images work?
Image 2.0 lets you upload up to five reference images when generating a new one. Grok Imagine uses those images to guide the style, composition, color palette, or subject of the output. For example, upload a photo of a sunset and a picture of a car, then ask for “a sports car driving along the coast at sunset,” and Grok will blend elements from both references into the final image.
Does Grok Imagine create videos?
Grok Imagine can generate short animated clips, but it’s not a full video generator like Seedance 2.5, MiniMax H3, or the retired Sora 2. For longer, more complex AI videos, see Convly’s guide to the best AI video generators.
Can I generate AI headshots with Grok Imagine?
Yes. Image 2.0 includes a headshot template that generates professional-looking portraits. Describe the style you want—business formal, casual, creative—and Grok Imagine creates a headshot. Always label these as AI-generated when using them on LinkedIn, resumes, or team pages. For a broader look at AI headshot tools, read Convly’s guide on how to get AI headshots.