Tesla rolls out AI assistant Grok in cars in the UAE

What's new

Tesla has sent software update 2026.32.6 to cars in the UAE. The update adds the AI assistant Grok, developed by Elon Musk's company xAI. According to Tesla, the feature will roll out over the coming week or so, and it is also coming to Israel, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Morocco.

What's clever

Grok can control navigation and set new routes, make calls, find music and podcasts and adjust the climate control, all by voice, so you can keep your hands on the wheel. The assistant can also answer questions based on the car's owner's manual, for example what a particular light on the dashboard means, and it can give location-based reminders, messages that pop up when you drive past a particular place.

Grok comes in several personalities, including a language teacher, a storyteller and a therapist-like conversation partner, with different voices to choose from. You activate it by tapping the screen, using a button on the steering wheel or saying "Hey Grok."

Cheaper or better?

Using the assistant in the car does not require a separate Grok account or extra payment. However, the car must have a newer AMD Ryzen-based infotainment computer, and it must have internet access, either via Wi-Fi or Tesla's paid Premium Connectivity subscription, which is already available as a regular add-on. No standalone price has been given for the Grok feature, and the sources contain no direct comparison with how competitors, such as other car brands' voice assistants, perform. Tesla has previously invested $2 billion in xAI, which is now part of the same group as SpaceX.

What it's good at

Grok is especially good for hands-free operation in the car, meaning you can control navigation, music and calls without touching the screen, which can make it easier and safer to concentrate on traffic. It is also useful if you are unsure how the car works, for example a warning light, and want a quick answer without looking it up in the physical manual. For families, the different personalities, such as language training and storytelling, can make longer drives more entertaining for children in the back seat.