xAI Python SDK v1.16.0: file storage for Grok Imagine and new model identifiers for image and video generation
xAI has released Python SDK version 1.16.0 with improvements for image and video generation through Grok Imagine. New features include file storage and input by ID, public file URLs with list filtering, and new model identifiers for editor autocomplete.
This article was generated using artificial intelligence from primary sources.
xAI released version 1.16.0 of its Python SDK on June 10, 2026. This is a minor SDK release focused on improving file handling in the context of image and video generation through the Grok Imagine interface. All changes come from a single contributor, @Omar-V2, through three pull requests.
What is new in the Grok Imagine integration?
The most important change in this version (PR #160) adds Imagine file storage — the ability to store files within xAI’s infrastructure and reference them by file ID as input for image and video generation tasks.
Until now the standard flow required that every time a user wanted to use a file (for example, a reference image for generation) that file had to be attached to the request. With the new support, a file can be uploaded and stored once, then referenced only via its ID in all future requests. This simplifies automation pipelines that repeatedly use the same input files and reduces unnecessary data transfer.
Files client improvements
PR #161 brings two new features to the files client:
- Public file URLs — generated or stored files can now obtain a publicly accessible URL, making sharing and integration with external systems easier.
- List filtering — the client now supports filtering when fetching the list of files, which is useful when programs manage a larger number of stored files and need to selectively retrieve a subset.
New model identifiers for IDEs
PR #162 adds new Grok Imagine model identifiers to the types/model.py file. This change is not functional in the sense of new model capabilities — it is an update to the types that serve editor autocomplete in IDE environments such as VS Code, PyCharm, or Cursor.
Context and scale of the change
It is important to put this release in perspective: this is a minor SDK release that does not introduce new AI models or significantly alter the SDK’s architecture. All changes are practical in nature and focused on the developer experience — easier file management when generating media content and better editor support.
The xAI Python SDK is an active project that tracks the development of Grok models and Imagine generative capabilities. Version 1.16.0 is available on PyPI and the project’s GitHub repository.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does xAI Python SDK v1.16.0 bring for image and video generation?
- Version 1.16.0 adds support for file storage (Imagine file storage) in the Grok Imagine interface, allowing generated or uploaded files to be referenced by ID as input for image and video generation tasks — without re-uploading the same file.
- What changes does the SDK bring for file management?
- The files client gets two new features: generating public URLs for stored files, and the ability to filter file lists by criteria — making programmatic management of larger numbers of stored files within the xAI ecosystem easier.
- Why were new Grok Imagine model identifiers added to types/model.py?
- The new model identifiers in types/model.py are intended to improve editor autocomplete in IDE environments. Developers writing code with the xAI SDK now get accurate model name suggestions without needing to search the documentation.
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