AI Plushie Grok, Voiced by Grimes, Trademarked Prior to Elon Musk’s Grok Release

Grimes is venturing into the toy industry with “Grok,” a character she lends her voice to for Curio’s innovative line of screen-free AI plushies. It's important to clarify that this Grok is separate from the AI chatbot associated with her ex, Elon Musk, which also goes by the name Grok. Musk has described his version through xAI as having a “rebellious streak” and an inclination to tackle “spicy questions” that other AI systems shy away from.

In contrast, Curio’s Grok, along with friends Gabbo and Grem, is crafted to inspire imaginative play. In a discussion with Curio founders Misha Sallee and Sam Eaton featured on Curio’s blog, Grimes stressed the importance of fostering creativity in children through dynamic interactions instead of relying on static prompts. “I love the idea of making imagination more accessible in our daily lives rather than just observing it through screens, movies, or books,” she explained.

In the announcement video from Curio, Grimes shared her desire for her kids to limit screen time, despite her busy schedule. Curio claims that these plush toys are capable of engaging in full conversations, enabling kids (and even adults) to enhance their communication skills. Grok is designed as an anthropomorphized rocket ship, while Gabbo resembles a plush Gameboy with arms and legs. Grem, a cheerful cyan bunny adorned with heart cheeks, rounds out the trio. The beta versions of these toys are available for preorder at $99 each until this Sunday, making them ideal for kids aged 3 to 7 — Grimes’ eldest child, X Æ A-Xii, is 3 years old.

These interactive plushies are programmed to answer questions about rocket ship construction, engage in games, and help children develop valuable listening and conversational skills. Each toy includes a rechargeable, Wi-Fi-enabled speaker and microphone that connects to an app, allowing parents to oversee and manage their interactions with their kids.

Grimes expressed her perspective on children's development, stating, “My goal is to protect as many young minds as possible, replacing screen time with something more enriching.” She elaborated, “The more we keep interactions verbal, the more we engage working memory, which can subtly enhance cognitive functions.”

Grimes became involved with Curio after a post discussing the potential of AI-powered toys, where she noted her interest in a teddy bear that could interact and provide comfort to children. The launch of Curio's Grok coincides with Musk's rollout of his ChatGPT competitor, both sharing the name Grok, albeit for different purposes.

Sallee humorously pointed out the coincidental overlap, mentioning that Grimes’ version of Grok was trademarked first. Curio secured its trademark on September 12, while xAI followed suit on October 23. Notably, Grimes’ Grok is derived from “Grocket,” inspired by her children’s close connection to rockets, as their father runs SpaceX.

Amid their busy lives, Grimes and Musk are currently navigating a custody dispute over their three children, having filed lawsuits against each other in California and Texas. In a light-hearted note about the name sharing, Grimes remarked that once Curio learned of xAI’s Grok, it was already too late to change their branding. “Now we have two AIs named Grok; I can’t wait for them to become friends,” she quipped. “It’s amusing to see even AI can’t escape meeting another with the same name!”