The big upgrade is that Grok now controls real car functions through natural conversation.
Here’s what you can do
Phone Calls & Media
“Call John”
“Play my workout playlist”
“Play something upbeat”
Vehicle Controls
“Set temperature to 72°” or “Turn on the AC”
“Make it cooler”
“Open the glovebox”
Ask Your Tesla
“What’s my current range?”
“What’s the tire pressure?”
“How do I turn on Dog Mode?”
You can follow up naturally too.
After saying “Play something upbeat,” you can just say “something more chill” or “skip this one.” No need to repeat full commands.
It still does everything it did before
Navigation planning (“Take me to the nearest Supercharger, then the coffee shop”)
Location-based reminders (“Remind me to grab milk when I’m near home”)
General knowledge questions and conversation
How to Use It – Step by Step
Here’s the simple process to get Grok working with the new features
Update Your Tesla
Connect to Wi-Fi and go to Controls > Software. The Summer 2026 update will download and install automatically when parked.
Open Grok
Tap the app launcher (grid icon) → Grok, or long-press the right scroll wheel on the steering wheel.
Enable “Hey Grok” (hands-free)
Go into Grok settings and turn on the wake word so you can just say “Hey Grok” anytime.
Set Personality to “Assistant”
This mode works best for vehicle controls and natural commands.
Start Talking
What You Need
Compatible car Most 2022+ Teslas with AMD Ryzen processor (check in Controls > Software > Additional Vehicle Information)
Software: Summer 2026 update or newer (rolling out now)
Connectivity Premium Connectivity subscription or connected to Wi-Fi for full features
Good news: Grok itself is completely free — no extra subscription required.
Grok requires an internet connection.
Tesla officially supports two ways
Premium Connectivity (Tesla’s paid cellular service)
Any Wi-Fi connection (including your phone’s hotspot)
Step-by-Step: How to Connect Your Tesla to Your Phone Hotspot
On your phone – Turn on the hotspot
Go to your phone’s settings
Turn on Personal Hotspot (or Mobile Hotspot)
Note the network name (SSID) and password that appears
Make sure your phone has a good cellular signal and data enabled
In your Tesla – Connect to the hotspot
Park your car (or be stopped safely)
Tap the Wi-Fi icon at the top of the screen (or go to Controls > Wi-Fi)
Find your phone’s hotspot name in the list and tap it
Enter the password when prompted
Wait for it to say “Connected”
Test Grok
Say “Hey Grok” (or long-press the right scroll wheel)
Try a command that needs internet, such as:“What’s the weather?”
“Play some music”
“Call John”
If it responds normally, Grok is working over your hotspot.
Keep your phone charged — Hotspot uses more battery.
Place your phone somewhere with good reception (not in a cup holder that blocks signal).
Monitor data usage on your phone — Grok + music streaming can use quite a bit.
Reconnect if needed — If you drive out of range and lose connection, just reconnect to the hotspot again when you have signal.
Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.
Known for identifying cutting edge technologies, he is currently a Co-Founder of a startup and fundraiser for high potential early-stage companies. He is the Head of Research for Allocations for deep technology investments and an Angel Investor at Space Angels.
A frequent speaker at corporations, he has been a TEDx speaker, a Singularity University speaker and guest at numerous interviews for radio and podcasts. He is open to public speaking and advising engagements.