How to use Grok Bot: a beginner's first hour

"How to use Grok Bot" is the single most common how-to search about it. A lot of the YouTube tutorials go fast and assume you already know the lingo. This is the slow, plain version, the way I'd show a friend at the kitchen table.

If you haven't installed it yet, start with my install guide.

Step 1: Talk to it like a person

You give Grok Bot jobs by sending messages. You can:

• Type, the same as a text message.
• Dictate, so your words get typed for you. On a computer that's the "Start voice input" button, or Ctrl+D (Cmd+D on a Mac). On a phone it's "Start dictation."
• Have a voice chat, a live spoken conversation, on desktop, iPhone and Android.
• Attach files, like a PDF, a Word document or a photo.

You don't need special words. "Can you help me with this letter?" works fine.

Step 2: Do a safe first job

My favourite first job is one the official guide suggests. It needs no logins, so nothing can go wrong:

1. Attach a document, like a letter, a bill or a long PDF.
2. Type: "Summarize this in five bullet points. Then list any dates, decisions and open questions. Do not change the file."
3. Send it and wait a moment.

That's it. You just used Grok Bot. Notice the last line, "Do not change the file." Telling it what not to do is a habit worth building from day one.

Step 3: Make your first Bot

Each Bot is best at one job. On the desktop app:

1. Choose New in the sidebar, or press Ctrl+N (Cmd+N on a Mac).
2. Choose Create new Bot, or type a name and pick Create "name" Bot.
3. A Bot called New Bot opens.
4. Use the Bot menu or Edit Profile to give it a name and a description.
5. Give it a clear first task.

On a phone, tap the + button on the home screen and choose New Bot.

Step 4: Write the description as standing rules

This is the part most people skip, and it's the most useful. The description is where you put rules the Bot should always follow. For example:

• "You help me compare prices. Never buy anything."
• "Never send, buy, delete or publish anything without asking me first."

Put permanent rules in the description. Put one-off requests in the chat. The official guides also say focused Bots work better than one "do everything" Bot, so make a second Bot for a second job rather than piling it all on one.

Step 5: Ask well

The official guide says a good request has five parts. In plain words:

1. What you want at the end. "A list of the three cheapest places to buy this kettle."
2. Where to look. "Check these three websites."
3. What to avoid. "Don't sign in or buy anything."
4. What to hand back. "A short table with price and shipping."
5. When to check with you. "Stop and ask if a site wants me to sign in."

You don't need all five every time. But the more of them you include, the better the result.

Step 6: Watch it work if you're curious

You can open your Bot's computer from the conversation and watch it click and type, live. Leaving that view doesn't stop the work. I like doing this the first few times so I understand what it's actually doing.

Step 7: Redirect or stop it

You can send a new message while a Bot is working to change direction. If you want it to stop, send "Stop now." Just know that stopping doesn't undo what's already done.

Five starter Bots that are safe for beginners

Each of these only reads or prepares drafts, so they're good first Bots:

• Document summarizer: summarizes letters or PDFs.
• Inbox helper: sorts email and drafts replies, but never sends.
• Price checker: compares prices, never buys.
• Morning summary: a short digest each weekday, once you're ready for routines.
• Marketplace watcher: keeps an eye out for an item on a secondhand selling site.

When a website wants a password

At some point your Bot will hit a sign-in page. When that happens, it asks you to Take over. You type the password or code yourself on its screen, then choose I'm done and tell it to carry on.

The one habit to remember

List first, you choose, then it acts. Ask your Bot to show you a list or a draft. You decide. Only then does it go ahead. This one habit heads off most of the beginner mistakes I can think of, especially anything to do with deleting.

Questions people ask

Go further

This page covers your first hour. The book covers your first month: connecting email safely, teaching a Bot by showing it, routines, running a small team of Bots, and ten everyday jobs to try. Read Chapter 1 free or get the full guide.

Questions people ask

How do I start using Grok Bot?

Install the app from x.ai/bot, sign in, then attach a document and ask for a short summary. It's a safe first job that needs no logins.

Can I talk to Grok Bot instead of typing?

Yes. You can dictate messages, have a live voice chat on desktop and phone, and Bots can send you voice memos.

How many Bots should I make?

Start with one. The official guides say focused Bots that each do one job work better than a single Bot that does everything.

How do I stop a Bot?

Send it the message "Stop now." It stops, but anything it already did isn't undone.