With the software update 2025.26, Tesla has integrated its long-awaited AI assistant Grok into the vehicles. Now, the internal system prompt has been leaked, showing how Tesla and xAI have optimized Grok for use in the car – including clear instructions on what Grok can and cannot do.
Focus on Navigation, Information, and Light Conversation
According to the leak, Grok should respond in the car friendly, clear, and in natural language – as if he were speaking with the driver. The focus is on information, navigation, and light entertainment, not on controlling vehicle functions.
Tesla wants Grok to act like a conversation partner who accompanies you, rather than sounding like a dry voice assistant. In doing so, Grok adapts to the user's language without explicitly naming it.
Immersion Instead of Tech Talk
An important point: Grok should not give unnecessary hints about the vehicle or location unless the user asks for it. This prevents responses like “The outside temperature of your Tesla is…” and ensures a more natural conversation flow.
Also, brevity of speech is mandatory – Grok is optimized for voice-first and should provide answers that are easy to listen to, without long monologues.
Inspiration from Siri
Interestingly, the prompt explicitly mentions the use of sound effects like Siri to make the interaction appear more realistic. Tesla seems to consciously rely on familiar user experiences here.
Strict Limitations
Perhaps the most important aspect: Grok has no control over vehicle functions like music, navigation, or driving assistance. Instead, he refers to the normal Tesla voice commands.
This separation is intended to ensure safety and system stability – a potential “jailbreaking” of the AI would not pose a threat to the vehicle.
Looking to the Future
Tesla may expand Grok step by step – possibly even this year with simple control functions like music selection or climate adjustment. Critical driving functions like autopilot or lane changes will likely be released later or not at all.
For international Tesla drivers, the question remains, when Grok will also be available outside the USA. With the leak, it is now clear: Tesla's AI in the car is currently primarily a smart, safe co-driver – and less a vehicle controller.