X and xAI Merge: Could Vine Make a Comeback?

X’s $33 billion merger with xAI on March 29, 2025, sparks speculation about a Vine revival, with users hoping the AI-powered combo can bring back the six-second video app amid a nostalgia wave.

X and xAI: A Powerhouse Combo

Elon Musk dropped a bombshell on March 29, 2025, announcing that xAI has acquired X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, in an all-stock deal valuing X at $33 billion—$11 billion less than Musk’s 2022 purchase price of $44 billion, according to Ars Technica.

The merger, combining xAI’s $80 billion valuation with X’s massive user base, aims to “build a platform that accelerates human progress,” Musk stated on X. With xAI’s AI tech—like Grok, already trained on X posts—now fully integrated, the deal promises to blend advanced AI with social media’s reach.

The merger isn’t exactly a surprise. X and xAI have been increasingly intertwined over the last year. Grok, xAI’s AI bot, has been available to X Premium+ subscribers since late 2023, with higher usage limits for paying users. Musk’s vision for xAI, launched in 2023 to “understand the universe,” now merges with X’s 436 million daily active users as of early 2025, per Reuters.

The combined company will leverage X posts to train AI models, potentially enhancing features like content curation or user engagement. Musk teased, “This combination will unlock immense potential,” hinting at AI-driven innovations across X’s ecosystem.

Could Vine Return?

The idea of a Vine revival isn’t just fan speculation anymore—Elon Musk has added fuel to the fire. On March 28, 2025, a user posted, “xAI now owns Vine. What should we do with it?” Musk replied directly: “Feel free to take that on.” The tweet has already racked up over 400,000 views, signaling interest in reviving the defunct six-second video app.

Vine, originally acquired by Twitter in 2012 for $30 million, was shut down in 2017 after struggling to monetize its platform. Despite its short lifespan, Vine helped launch major internet personalities like Logan Paul and Shawn Mendes and laid the groundwork for short-form video culture later dominated by TikTok.

Now, with the merger between xAI and X—and Musk’s public openness to bringing Vine back—there’s renewed buzz about its future. While there’s no official announcement yet, Musk’s endorsement suggests a revival is at least on the table. If it happens, Vine could be powered by xAI’s tools, making it smarter, more personalized, and better suited to compete in 2025’s crowded short-form video space.

What’s Next for X, xAI, and Vine?

The X-xAI merger sets the stage for an AI-driven evolution of social media, but a Vine revival remains purely speculative. If Musk greenlights it, xAI’s AI tools could enhance Vine with smarter algorithms and creator features aimed at recapturing an audience that’s now addicted to TikTok-style video content.

For now, the focus appears to be on integrating xAI’s capabilities deeper into X’s core platform. Vine’s return would be a nostalgic bonus, not the main event—at least not yet.

Sources:

• https://arstechnica.com/tech-news/2025/03/xai-buys-x-deal-values-social-network-at-33-billion-11b-less-than-musk-paid

• https://www.reuters.com/technology/elon-musk-says-xai-will-examine-universe-work-with-twitter-and-tesla-2023-07-14

• https://www.reuters.com/technology/musk-to-integrate-xai-with-social-media-platform-x-2023-11-07

• https://em360tech.com/tech-article/what-happened-vine

• https://www.failory.com/blog/why-did-vine-shut-down