xAI: SDK Python v1.14.0 adds enable_image_search to web_search and SERVER_SIDE_TOOL_IMAGE_SEARCH enum

xAI released Python SDK v1.14.0 with an extension of the Grok model’s web search capabilities. The update brings two new components for development teams building applications on the xAI API: the enable_image_search parameter and the SERVER_SIDE_TOOL_IMAGE_SEARCH enum constant.

What does enable_image_search add to Grok web search?

Web search (web_search) was available in the xAI SDK as a tool that Grok can use to retrieve current information from the internet. Version v1.14.0 extends this functionality: the new enable_image_search option allows activating visual content search alongside standard text web search.

In practice, this means Grok-based applications can search for and return images as part of web search results — opening up possibilities for multi-modal responses that combine text and visual content from web sources. This is particularly relevant for applications that need visual references, product images, or diagrammatic explanations in real time.

How does the SERVER_SIDE_TOOL_IMAGE_SEARCH enum work?

SERVER_SIDE_TOOL_IMAGE_SEARCH is a new constant within the enum type that defines available server-side tools in the xAI ecosystem. Server-side tools are capabilities that the xAI infrastructure executes on its own side — as opposed to client-side tools that the development application must implement itself.

By including this enum value in the configuration, the developer signals that Grok may activate the image search tool when processing requests that require it. This approach keeps control with the development team — image search is not activated automatically, but only when explicitly permitted.

Context: open-source contribution and xAI SDK development dynamics

Version v1.14.0 is also notable for including a contribution from an external collaborator — user @ushiromiya-lion on GitHub is marked as a first-time contributor to the xai-org/xai-sdk-python repository. Pull requests #152 and #153 that make up this update are open for review in the repository.

The xAI Python SDK is available on the xai-org/xai-sdk-python GitHub repository and is intended for developers who want to integrate Grok models (Grok 3, Grok 4 series) into Python applications. The SDK follows standard Python packaging conventions, and updates are available through the PyPI distribution platform.