Tesla Announces New ‘Hey, Grok’ Wake Word for In-Car AI Assistant
Tesla has confirmed that its latest in-car AI assistant, Grok, will soon be equipped with a hands-free wake word. Grok was introduced in the 2025.26 update and Tesla is already working on enhancing its capabilities.
Elon Musk revealed that Grok will soon respond to the wake word “Hey, Grok” in Tesla vehicles. This will make the conversational assistant feel even more human-like by recognizing its own name.
Currently, Grok is activated by a long press of the voice command button (or right scroll wheel on older models). A single tap of the button/wheel activates the outgoing voice command system, which is expected to be replaced by Grok in the future.
The introduction of a wake word will be particularly beneficial for drivers using Autopilot, as it prevents accidental deactivation while lightly holding the steering wheel.
Coming
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 16, 2025
Grok’s Enhanced Capabilities
Grok in a Tesla is set to offer more functionality than on a phone or smart speaker, thanks to its access to real-time contextual data about the vehicle and its surroundings. In addition to current location data, Grok will soon integrate information such as destination, route, battery level, and more to provide personalized responses.
For example, asking “Hey, Grok – what’s the best coffee shop along my route within 15 minutes?” will yield accurate recommendations based on real-time data.
Anticipated Improvements
The addition of a hands-free wake word marks the beginning of Tesla’s ongoing efforts to enhance Grok. Improved voice command syntax and expanded capabilities, such as controlling vehicle functions like opening the garage door or setting radio stations, are expected in future updates.
While Grok is still in development, Tesla’s commitment to continuous improvement suggests a promising roadmap for the AI assistant’s evolution. Exciting features inspired by popular culture, like communicating with vehicles from afar, may also be on the horizon.