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xAI

docs/providers/xai.md

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OpenClaw ships a bundled xai provider plugin for Grok models.

Getting started

<Steps> <Step title="Create an API key"> Create an API key in the [xAI console](https://console.x.ai/). </Step> <Step title="Set your API key"> Set `XAI_API_KEY`, or run:
```bash
openclaw onboard --auth-choice xai-api-key
```
</Step> <Step title="Pick a model"> ```json5 { agents: { defaults: { model: { primary: "xai/grok-4.3" } } }, } ``` </Step> </Steps> <Note> OpenClaw uses the xAI Responses API as the bundled xAI transport. The same `XAI_API_KEY` can also power Grok-backed `web_search`, first-class `x_search`, and remote `code_execution`. If you store an xAI key under `plugins.entries.xai.config.webSearch.apiKey`, the bundled xAI model provider reuses that key as a fallback too. Set `plugins.entries.xai.config.webSearch.baseUrl` to route Grok `web_search` and, by default, `x_search` through an operator xAI Responses proxy. `code_execution` tuning lives under `plugins.entries.xai.config.codeExecution`. </Note>

Built-in catalog

OpenClaw includes these xAI model families out of the box:

FamilyModel ids
Grok 3grok-3, grok-3-fast, grok-3-mini, grok-3-mini-fast
Grok 4.3grok-4.3
Grok 4grok-4, grok-4-0709
Grok 4 Fastgrok-4-fast, grok-4-fast-non-reasoning
Grok 4.1 Fastgrok-4-1-fast, grok-4-1-fast-non-reasoning
Grok 4.20 Betagrok-4.20-beta-latest-reasoning, grok-4.20-beta-latest-non-reasoning
Grok Codegrok-code-fast-1

The plugin also forward-resolves newer grok-4* and grok-code-fast* ids when they follow the same API shape.

<Tip> `grok-4.3`, `grok-4-fast`, `grok-4-1-fast`, and the `grok-4.20-beta-*` variants are the current image-capable Grok refs in the bundled catalog. </Tip>

OpenClaw feature coverage

The bundled plugin maps xAI's current public API surface onto OpenClaw's shared provider and tool contracts. Capabilities that don't fit the shared contract (for example streaming TTS and realtime voice) are not exposed — see the table below.

xAI capabilityOpenClaw surfaceStatus
Chat / Responsesxai/<model> model providerYes
Server-side web searchweb_search provider grokYes
Server-side X searchx_search toolYes
Server-side code executioncode_execution toolYes
Imagesimage_generateYes
Videosvideo_generateYes
Batch text-to-speechmessages.tts.provider: "xai" / ttsYes
Streaming TTSNot exposed; OpenClaw's TTS contract returns complete audio buffers
Batch speech-to-texttools.media.audio / media understandingYes
Streaming speech-to-textVoice Call streaming.provider: "xai"Yes
Realtime voiceNot exposed yet; different session/WebSocket contract
Files / batchesGeneric model API compatibility onlyNot a first-class OpenClaw tool
<Note> OpenClaw uses xAI's REST image/video/TTS/STT APIs for media generation, speech, and batch transcription, xAI's streaming STT WebSocket for live voice-call transcription, and the Responses API for model, search, and code-execution tools. Features that need different OpenClaw contracts, such as Realtime voice sessions, are documented here as upstream capabilities rather than hidden plugin behavior. </Note>

Fast-mode mappings

/fast on or agents.defaults.models["xai/<model>"].params.fastMode: true rewrites native xAI requests as follows:

Source modelFast-mode target
grok-3grok-3-fast
grok-3-minigrok-3-mini-fast
grok-4grok-4-fast
grok-4-0709grok-4-fast

Legacy compatibility aliases

Legacy aliases still normalize to the canonical bundled ids:

Legacy aliasCanonical id
grok-4-fast-reasoninggrok-4-fast
grok-4-1-fast-reasoninggrok-4-1-fast
grok-4.20-reasoninggrok-4.20-beta-latest-reasoning
grok-4.20-non-reasoninggrok-4.20-beta-latest-non-reasoning

Features

<AccordionGroup> <Accordion title="Web search"> The bundled `grok` web-search provider uses `XAI_API_KEY` too:
```bash
openclaw config set tools.web.search.provider grok
```
</Accordion> <Accordion title="Video generation"> The bundled `xai` plugin registers video generation through the shared `video_generate` tool.
- Default video model: `xai/grok-imagine-video`
- Modes: text-to-video, image-to-video, reference-image generation, remote
  video edit, and remote video extension
- Aspect ratios: `1:1`, `16:9`, `9:16`, `4:3`, `3:4`, `3:2`, `2:3`
- Resolutions: `480P`, `720P`
- Duration: 1-15 seconds for generation/image-to-video, 1-10 seconds when
  using `reference_image` roles, 2-10 seconds for extension
- Reference-image generation: set `imageRoles` to `reference_image` for
  every supplied image; xAI accepts up to 7 such images

<Warning>
Local video buffers are not accepted. Use remote `http(s)` URLs for
video edit/extend inputs. Image-to-video accepts local image buffers because
OpenClaw can encode those as data URLs for xAI.
</Warning>

To use xAI as the default video provider:

```json5
{
  agents: {
    defaults: {
      videoGenerationModel: {
        primary: "xai/grok-imagine-video",
      },
    },
  },
}
```

<Note>
See [Video Generation](/tools/video-generation) for shared tool parameters,
provider selection, and failover behavior.
</Note>
</Accordion> <Accordion title="Image generation"> The bundled `xai` plugin registers image generation through the shared `image_generate` tool.
- Default image model: `xai/grok-imagine-image`
- Additional model: `xai/grok-imagine-image-pro`
- Modes: text-to-image and reference-image edit
- Reference inputs: one `image` or up to five `images`
- Aspect ratios: `1:1`, `16:9`, `9:16`, `4:3`, `3:4`, `2:3`, `3:2`
- Resolutions: `1K`, `2K`
- Count: up to 4 images

OpenClaw asks xAI for `b64_json` image responses so generated media can be
stored and delivered through the normal channel attachment path. Local
reference images are converted to data URLs; remote `http(s)` references are
passed through.

To use xAI as the default image provider:

```json5
{
  agents: {
    defaults: {
      imageGenerationModel: {
        primary: "xai/grok-imagine-image",
      },
    },
  },
}
```

<Note>
xAI also documents `quality`, `mask`, `user`, and additional native ratios
such as `1:2`, `2:1`, `9:20`, and `20:9`. OpenClaw forwards only the
shared cross-provider image controls today; unsupported native-only knobs
are intentionally not exposed through `image_generate`.
</Note>
</Accordion> <Accordion title="Text-to-speech"> The bundled `xai` plugin registers text-to-speech through the shared `tts` provider surface.
- Voices: `eve`, `ara`, `rex`, `sal`, `leo`, `una`
- Default voice: `eve`
- Formats: `mp3`, `wav`, `pcm`, `mulaw`, `alaw`
- Language: BCP-47 code or `auto`
- Speed: provider-native speed override
- Native Opus voice-note format is not supported

To use xAI as the default TTS provider:

```json5
{
  messages: {
    tts: {
      provider: "xai",
      providers: {
        xai: {
          voiceId: "eve",
        },
      },
    },
  },
}
```

<Note>
OpenClaw uses xAI's batch `/v1/tts` endpoint. xAI also offers streaming TTS
over WebSocket, but the OpenClaw speech provider contract currently expects
a complete audio buffer before reply delivery.
</Note>
</Accordion> <Accordion title="Speech-to-text"> The bundled `xai` plugin registers batch speech-to-text through OpenClaw's media-understanding transcription surface.
- Default model: `grok-stt`
- Endpoint: xAI REST `/v1/stt`
- Input path: multipart audio file upload
- Supported by OpenClaw wherever inbound audio transcription uses
  `tools.media.audio`, including Discord voice-channel segments and
  channel audio attachments

To force xAI for inbound audio transcription:

```json5
{
  tools: {
    media: {
      audio: {
        models: [
          {
            type: "provider",
            provider: "xai",
            model: "grok-stt",
          },
        ],
      },
    },
  },
}
```

Language can be supplied through the shared audio media config or per-call
transcription request. Prompt hints are accepted by the shared OpenClaw
surface, but the xAI REST STT integration only forwards file, model, and
language because those map cleanly to the current public xAI endpoint.
</Accordion> <Accordion title="Streaming speech-to-text"> The bundled `xai` plugin also registers a realtime transcription provider for live voice-call audio.
- Endpoint: xAI WebSocket `wss://api.x.ai/v1/stt`
- Default encoding: `mulaw`
- Default sample rate: `8000`
- Default endpointing: `800ms`
- Interim transcripts: enabled by default

Voice Call's Twilio media stream sends G.711 µ-law audio frames, so the
xAI provider can forward those frames directly without transcoding:

```json5
{
  plugins: {
    entries: {
      "voice-call": {
        config: {
          streaming: {
            enabled: true,
            provider: "xai",
            providers: {
              xai: {
                apiKey: "${XAI_API_KEY}",
                endpointingMs: 800,
                language: "en",
              },
            },
          },
        },
      },
    },
  },
}
```

Provider-owned config lives under
`plugins.entries.voice-call.config.streaming.providers.xai`. Supported
keys are `apiKey`, `baseUrl`, `sampleRate`, `encoding` (`pcm`, `mulaw`, or
`alaw`), `interimResults`, `endpointingMs`, and `language`.

<Note>
This streaming provider is for Voice Call's realtime transcription path.
Discord voice currently records short segments and uses the batch
`tools.media.audio` transcription path instead.
</Note>
</Accordion> <Accordion title="x_search configuration"> The bundled xAI plugin exposes `x_search` as an OpenClaw tool for searching X (formerly Twitter) content via Grok.
Config path: `plugins.entries.xai.config.xSearch`

| Key                | Type    | Default            | Description                          |
| ------------------ | ------- | ------------------ | ------------------------------------ |
| `enabled`          | boolean | —                  | Enable or disable x_search           |
| `model`            | string  | `grok-4-1-fast`    | Model used for x_search requests     |
| `baseUrl`          | string  | —                  | xAI Responses base URL override      |
| `inlineCitations`  | boolean | —                  | Include inline citations in results  |
| `maxTurns`         | number  | —                  | Maximum conversation turns           |
| `timeoutSeconds`   | number  | —                  | Request timeout in seconds           |
| `cacheTtlMinutes`  | number  | —                  | Cache time-to-live in minutes        |

```json5
{
  plugins: {
    entries: {
      xai: {
        config: {
          xSearch: {
            enabled: true,
            model: "grok-4-1-fast",
            baseUrl: "https://api.x.ai/v1",
            inlineCitations: true,
          },
        },
      },
    },
  },
}
```
</Accordion> <Accordion title="Code execution configuration"> The bundled xAI plugin exposes `code_execution` as an OpenClaw tool for remote code execution in xAI's sandbox environment.
Config path: `plugins.entries.xai.config.codeExecution`

| Key               | Type    | Default            | Description                              |
| ----------------- | ------- | ------------------ | ---------------------------------------- |
| `enabled`         | boolean | `true` (if key available) | Enable or disable code execution  |
| `model`           | string  | `grok-4-1-fast`    | Model used for code execution requests   |
| `maxTurns`        | number  | —                  | Maximum conversation turns               |
| `timeoutSeconds`  | number  | —                  | Request timeout in seconds               |

<Note>
This is remote xAI sandbox execution, not local [`exec`](/tools/exec).
</Note>

```json5
{
  plugins: {
    entries: {
      xai: {
        config: {
          codeExecution: {
            enabled: true,
            model: "grok-4-1-fast",
          },
        },
      },
    },
  },
}
```
</Accordion> <Accordion title="Known limits"> - Auth is API-key only today. There is no xAI OAuth or device-code flow in OpenClaw yet. - `grok-4.20-multi-agent-experimental-beta-0304` is not supported on the normal xAI provider path because it requires a different upstream API surface than the standard OpenClaw xAI transport. - xAI Realtime voice is not registered as an OpenClaw provider yet. It needs a different bidirectional voice session contract than batch STT or streaming transcription. - xAI image `quality`, image `mask`, and extra native-only aspect ratios are not exposed until the shared `image_generate` tool has corresponding cross-provider controls. </Accordion> <Accordion title="Advanced notes"> - OpenClaw applies xAI-specific tool-schema and tool-call compatibility fixes automatically on the shared runner path. - Native xAI requests default `tool_stream: true`. Set `agents.defaults.models["xai/<model>"].params.tool_stream` to `false` to disable it. - The bundled xAI wrapper strips unsupported strict tool-schema flags and reasoning payload keys before sending native xAI requests. - `web_search`, `x_search`, and `code_execution` are exposed as OpenClaw tools. OpenClaw enables the specific xAI built-in it needs inside each tool request instead of attaching all native tools to every chat turn. - Grok `web_search` reads `plugins.entries.xai.config.webSearch.baseUrl`. `x_search` reads `plugins.entries.xai.config.xSearch.baseUrl`, then falls back to the Grok web-search base URL. - `x_search` and `code_execution` are owned by the bundled xAI plugin rather than hardcoded into the core model runtime. - `code_execution` is remote xAI sandbox execution, not local [`exec`](/tools/exec). </Accordion> </AccordionGroup>

Live testing

The xAI media paths are covered by unit tests and opt-in live suites. The live commands load secrets from your login shell, including ~/.profile, before probing XAI_API_KEY.

bash
pnpm test extensions/xai
OPENCLAW_LIVE_TEST=1 OPENCLAW_LIVE_TEST_QUIET=1 pnpm test:live -- extensions/xai/xai.live.test.ts
OPENCLAW_LIVE_TEST=1 OPENCLAW_LIVE_TEST_QUIET=1 OPENCLAW_LIVE_IMAGE_GENERATION_PROVIDERS=xai pnpm test:live -- test/image-generation.runtime.live.test.ts

The provider-specific live file synthesizes normal TTS, telephony-friendly PCM TTS, transcribes audio through xAI batch STT, streams the same PCM through xAI realtime STT, generates text-to-image output, and edits a reference image. The shared image live file verifies the same xAI provider through OpenClaw's runtime selection, fallback, normalization, and media attachment path.

<CardGroup cols={2}> <Card title="Model selection" href="/concepts/model-providers" icon="layers"> Choosing providers, model refs, and failover behavior. </Card> <Card title="Video generation" href="/tools/video-generation" icon="video"> Shared video tool parameters and provider selection. </Card> <Card title="All providers" href="/providers/index" icon="grid-2"> The broader provider overview. </Card> <Card title="Troubleshooting" href="/help/troubleshooting" icon="wrench"> Common issues and fixes. </Card> </CardGroup>