Telegram, the messaging app known for its versatility and high security, announced a partnership with Elon Musk’s AI company xAI, planning to integrate Grok, the chatbot developed by the company, into Telegram, while also receiving an investment of up to $300 million from xAI. However, the announcement immediately sparked public attention and questions, as Musk publicly denied it, casting uncertainty over the partnership.
The cooperation amount is as high as $300 million, and Telegram is expected to gain considerable profits.
Starting this summer, Telegram users will have access to the most advanced AI technology on the market. I have reached an agreement with Elon Musk on a one-year partnership to integrate xAI’s chatbot Grok into all Telegram apps, serving over 1 billion global users.
🔥 This summer, Telegram users will gain access to the best AI technology on the market. @elonmusk and I have agreed to a 1-year partnership to bring xAI’s @grok to our billion+ users and integrate it across all Telegram apps 🤝
💪 This also strengthens Telegram’s financial… pic.twitter.com/ZPK550AyRV
— Pavel Durov (@durov) May 28, 2025
Durov noted that under the cooperation agreement, Telegram will receive $300 million in compensation from xAI, paid in a mix of cash and stock, while Telegram will also enjoy a 50% share of subscription revenue from xAI sold through its platform. He further emphasized: “This partnership not only enhances the user experience but also helps strengthen Telegram’s financial foundation. By working together, we are bound to succeed.”
Musk responded: “The contract has not yet been finalized.”
However, on the very day of Durov’s high-profile announcement, Elon Musk himself directlyReplies below the post.“The contract has not been established.” This statement immediately sparked speculation and confusion among outsiders—was Telegram acting first and seeking approval later, or was there a gap in understanding during the negotiation process? As of now, neither party has publicly disclosed further details, but this Rashomon-style exchange has undoubtedly added an air of suspense to what was originally an exciting investment plan.
In fact, as early as March 2025, Grok had already launched its service for Telegram Premium users, undergoing initial testing and application as an AI chat assistant. Grok is a natural language processing AI assistant developed by xAI, equipped with multiple functions such as conversation, text generation, information search, and command execution. This technology is seen as another important chess piece for Musk in his fight against OpenAI (Musk and Sam Altman were once co-founders but have since fallen out).
grok now available directly on @telegram
— Grok (@grok) March 26, 2025
If this partnership between Telegram and xAI officially materializes, all Telegram users will be able to use Grok without restrictions in the future. This would make Telegram one of the first instant messaging platforms worldwide to integrate generative AI features at scale, while also instantly bringing Grok a massive number of active users.
From chat summaries to sticker creation, Grok will change how you use it.
According to Telegram’s plan, Grok will be placed at the top of the chat list above the app interface and integrated into the search field. Users can simply tap or type to start a conversation with Grok.
In terms of functionality, Grok will support multiple application scenarios, including:
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Writing articles and message replies
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Summarize and organize conversations, linked content, and documents.
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Automatically generate personalized stickers.
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Answer common enterprise questions (e.g., customer service assistance)
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Assist with content moderation and management for groups or channels.
This comprehensive integration approach allows Telegram to not only be a communication tool, but also to gradually move toward becoming an “intelligent communication platform.”
Grok’s integration into Telegram is quite similar to Meta’s recent strategy (its parent company is Facebook). Meta has integrated its AI assistant, Meta AI, into the search fields of Instagram and WhatsApp, offering similar real-time query and suggestion features. If the collaboration between Telegram and xAI proceeds smoothly, it could potentially rival Meta in the AI market and even become one of the most user-preferred smart messaging platforms.
Telegram has long insisted on rejecting external advertising and traditional monetization models. If it successfully secures xAI’s $300 million in cash and stock compensation this time, it will mark a highly significant step in its financial structure. Additionally, Telegram can share in xAI subscription revenue through a revenue-sharing mechanism, introducing an innovative monetization model that does not depend on external funding or ad income, further strengthening its independence and sustainability among global tech platforms.
Source: KOCPC Chinese