Grok Field Guide

For people new to AI

New to Grok Bot? Start here.

You do not need to know anything about AI to use this guide. This page explains the few words you will see, how to choose a level, and how to stay safe. Then it points you to five easy guides.

What is Grok Bot?

Grok Bot is an AI helper made by xAI. You write to it in normal words. For example: "Find refunds I never got." It can read your email, use websites, and write drafts on its own computer.

You choose what it can use, and you decide what it may do without asking. Every guide on this site tells you, in one sentence, what the bot does by itself.

Stay safe

  1. Type passwords yourselfSign in on the bot's computer yourself. Do not paste passwords into the chat.
  2. Start with draftsAsk the bot to write drafts and wait for your OK before it sends anything.
  3. Keep new scheduled jobs switched offTurn each one on only after you have checked it.
  4. Read before you copyRead a shared bot (a template) before you add it. Check it the same way you would check any app.

Words you will see

Bot
An AI helper that you give jobs to in normal words. In this guide, "bot" always means a Grok Bot.
Prompt
The instructions you type for the bot. Many guides include a prompt you can copy.
Skill
Saved instructions that the bot can use again, so you do not have to type them each time.
Scheduled job
A job the bot does at set times, for example every morning at 8. Grok Bot calls these routines.
Draft
A message or change that the bot prepares but does not send. You read it and decide.
Connected app
An app, such as Gmail or Google Calendar, that you allow the bot to use.
Coding agent
A separate AI helper that writes computer code, for example a Cursor agent. Only the developer guides use these.
Code change (pull request)
A set of changes to a software project that people review before it goes in.
Workflow
Two or more setups that run in order. When one setup finishes, the next one starts. See the Workflows page.
Tokens
The units that AI services use to count how much you use them. More tokens can mean higher costs.

01Pick your level

Like a course: start at Beginner and move up when you feel ready. Each level lists three guides to try in order.

Levels, time to set up, and guides to try in order
LevelWhat it meansTime to set upTry these, in this order
BeginnerGood for your first week. One bot, few or no apps to connect, and nothing is sent without you.10 minutes
  1. Find the 3 messages that really need you today
  2. Fill your Amazon or Costco cart, then check out yourself
  3. Give your bot its own email address
All 8 beginner guides
IntermediateFor when you feel comfortable. It may connect a few apps, run on a schedule, use websites for you, or use two bots.About 1 hour
  1. Let bots work at night and leave you a list for the morning
  2. Talk to one bot that manages your other bots
  3. Back up your bot setup so you can rebuild it
All 15 intermediate guides
AdvancedBigger setups, code, or bots that act with less checking. Read the notes carefully first.A few hours
  1. Run 200+ AI coding helpers with a team of manager bots
  2. A manager bot that checks in with your other bots every day
  3. Sales emails that bots prepare and you check
All 7 advanced guides

02What a bot does by itself

Every guide has one of these four, written as a plain sentence.

  1. It only reads and reportsIt looks at your information and tells you what it found. It does not send or change anything.
  2. It writes draftsIt prepares messages or changes. You read them and decide what to send.
  3. It asks you firstIt does the work, but it stops and waits for your OK before anything important.
  4. It acts without askingIt takes real actions without checking with you. These guides have a warning sign. Add an approval step if you copy one.

+Your first scheduled job

Copy a prompt, paste it to your bot, and it runs on a schedule. See all 9 on the Start in 5 minutes page

PersonalEvery weekday at 8 AM

Morning email check

Each morning, the bot reads your new email and tells you the few messages that really need you.

You need: Email

Prompt to paste to your bot

Every weekday at 8:00 AM, read my new email. Send me a short list here with the 3 messages that are most important and most urgent, and one line about why for each. Do not reply, send, or delete anything.

Read the guide: Find the 3 messages that really need you todayNext step in Workflows: Talk to one bot that manages your other bots

PersonalEvery weekday at 7 PM

School email summary

Each evening, the bot reads the day's school emails. It tells you what to pack, sign, or pay for tomorrow.

You need: Email

Prompt to paste to your bot

Every weekday at 7:00 PM, read my kids' school emails from today. Tell me what to pack, wear, sign, or pay for tomorrow. List any deadlines and sign-ups. Do not reply to the school.

Read the guide: Hand off family admin: school emails, gift cards, appointments

03Good first guides

Five beginner guides. Each takes about 10 minutes to set up, and nothing is sent without you.

Email & CalendarBeginnerStrong evidenceFrom X, xAI and a blog

Find the 3 messages that really need you today

A bot reads all your messages and points out the few that matter. It can write drafts, but only you can send them.

8/10 Money & ShoppingBeginnerStrong evidenceFrom X and xAI

Fill your Amazon or Costco cart, then check out yourself

Send your bot a list like 'eggs, paper towels'. You get a full cart with the brands you usually buy, and you press Buy.

8/10 Email & CalendarBeginnerStrong evidenceFrom X and xAI

Give your bot its own email address

Copy your bot on an email and write your request on the last line. Different addresses can even go to different bots, for free.

8/10 Getting StartedBeginnerStrong evidenceFrom X and xAI

Turn a task into a job that runs on a schedule

Do it once, save it, test it, and only then schedule it. A tested job with a clear stop point breaks far less often.

8/10 Getting StartedBeginnerStrong evidenceFrom xAI

Share a bot, or copy one someone else made

Copy someone's working bot from one link. Read what it includes before you add it.

6/10