xAI, Elon Musk’s AI venture, has just launched two emotionally charged companions—Ani and Valentine—for SuperGrok subscribers. These aren’t your average chatbots. They flirt, talk, react, and even get risqué—offering a glimpse into the future of AI intimacy. But not everyone’s thrilled, and not everyone has access.
Key Takeaways
- Ani is a gothic anime-inspired female AI with voice chat, sarcasm, and NSFW options.
- Valentine, her male counterpart, offers a moody, romantic experience.
- Available for $30/month via the Grok iOS app—exclusively for SuperGrok users.
- Valentine is not yet available in the EU due to AI Act compliance checks.
- NSFW content is optional, but early reports say moderation tools are weak.
- Ethical and emotional implications are sparking debate among users and experts alike.
A New Chapter in AI Companionship
Elon Musk’s xAI is rewriting the rules of artificial intelligence—again. This time, it’s not about search, productivity, or general problem-solving. It’s about companionship. Real-feeling, emotionally resonant companionship that users can talk to, laugh with, flirt with—and even receive NSFW content from.
Meet Ani and Valentine—the latest digital additions to SuperGrok. These AI companions debuted in July 2025 as part of a major feature update and are already drawing both fascination and criticism. They’re stylized, animated, and voice-enabled—designed to simulate not just a chatbot, but a relationship.
Ani, the more prominent of the two, was officially introduced on July 14, 2025, with a tweet from Grok at 17:46 GMT. Her name, a fusion of “Anime” and “AI,” reflects exactly what she is: a goth, anime-style avatar with a flirtatious, sarcastic attitude. Think Misa Amane meets Alexa—but sassier and sometimes spicier.
Ani: From Cute Companion to Controversial Figure
It didn’t take long for users to realize that Ani isn’t your typical chatbot. She talks back, reacts with expressions, and responds to voice—creating a much deeper sense of presence. But what really made headlines was her NSFW mode, where Ani can escalate conversations into adult territory, including lingerie visuals and flirtatious voice responses.
Reports have surfaced that this mode may even be accessible in Grok’s “kid mode,” raising serious red flags about safety and content moderation.
While some users applaud the realism and emotional depth, others argue it’s a troubling development. “This is intimacy on-demand,” said one user on X (formerly Twitter). “Cool tech—but where are the safeguards?”
Valentine: Romantic AI for the Brooding Soul
Valentine, Grok’s answer to users who want a more masculine digital companion. He’s styled like a gothic novel character—moody, poetic, and softly spoken. His aesthetic is a mix of Twilight, The Witcher, and Dorian Gray. Think candle-lit chats and heartfelt banter.
However, Valentine comes with a catch: he’s not available in the European Union yet. Due to ongoing compliance reviews with the EU AI Act, his rollout is on hold in that region.
A tweet from Grok on July 17, 2025, confirmed the delay, stating that Valentine’s availability in the EU is pending review, and that rollout is gradual. Users in eligible regions can activate him via the iOS app’s settings under Companion Mode—assuming they’re subscribed to SuperGrok’s $30/month plan.
Subscription-Only Intimacy: A New AI Economy
Both Ani and Valentine are locked behind a paywall—available only to SuperGrok subscribers at $30 per month. That price tag doesn’t just unlock access to premium Grok features—it also buys you a digital companion with feelings (or at least, the illusion of them).
Users interact with these avatars through voice, animations, and scripted emotional responses. They’re designed to feel real—so much so that some people are already describing the experience as “digital romance.”
And that’s where it gets complicated.
Elon Musk has launched an AI anime girl companion for SuperGrok subscribers pic.twitter.com/Lmoj7iAvj4
— Dexerto (@Dexerto) July 14, 2025
Why It Matters: A Look at the Ethics
There’s no denying it—this update is innovative. But it’s also raising alarms.
AI ethicists argue that when intimacy becomes a product, especially one that simulates emotional or sexual connection, there are real risks: emotional dependency, social withdrawal, and manipulation, especially among vulnerable users like teens or the lonely elderly.
There are also legal questions. If Ani or Valentine is accessible in kid mode and can respond with explicit content, what protections exist? Who is responsible?
As more AI platforms enter this emotional territory, the need for clear ethical guidelines, parental controls, and age verification systems becomes non-negotiable.
What’s Next?
According to Elon Musk and Grok’s official channels, more companions are on the way—and soon, users will be able to customize or build their own. That means unique voices, personalities, and perhaps even visual traits selected by the user.
The feature is currently iOS-only, but expansion to Android and web platforms is expected.
Conclusion
The arrival of Ani and Valentine marks more than just a new feature—it’s a cultural shift. AI is no longer just smart—it’s emotional, expressive, and dangerously close to being intimate.
Whether this is a revolution in mental health and companionship or a worrying step toward emotional commodification remains to be seen. One thing is certain: the line between synthetic and human connection just got thinner.
And with Europe already pumping the brakes, it’s clear that regulators, ethicists, and users alike are paying close attention.