Telegram is bringing Grok, the AI chatbot from Elon Musk’s xAI, to its massive user base.
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov announced on X (formerly Twitter) that Grok will be integrated into the messaging platform this summer, marking a major step for both companies in the AI space.
According to Durov, the agreement involves a one-year partnership between Telegram and xAI. As part of the deal, Telegram will receive $300 million in a mix of cash and equity, plus half the revenue from xAI subscriptions sold through Telegram.
In his post, Durov said, “This summer, Telegram users will gain access to the best AI technology on the market.” He added that the partnership will not only enhance user experience but also strengthen Telegram’s financial standing.
Telegram released a teaser video on X, hinting at what Grok could look like inside the app. It’s expected that the AI will be available across all Telegram apps, possibly integrated into chats, search, and even channel interactions.
However, there’s a bit of a wrinkle. Elon Musk responded to Durov’s announcement by saying, “No deal has been signed.” This stirred some confusion among users and industry watchers. But Durov followed up quickly, saying, “True. Agreed in principle, but formalities are pending.” So while the agreement is essentially in place, it’s not yet official on paper.
Still, the integration of Grok into a messaging platform like Telegram isn’t being universally celebrated. Hanna Kahlert, a media analyst, told BBC News she’s skeptical. “Users primarily still use social platforms to talk to their friends, and see their friends’ updates,” she explained. “Adding AI into direct messaging inherently supplants that, it reduces trust between users and distracts from the current USP.”
This highlights a larger tension in the tech world. While AI tools like Grok are innovative, they risk changing the core function of social and messaging platforms. Many users just want to chat with friends, not engage with bots.
Despite this, the Grok Telegram integration could offer real value if implemented with care. If used for summarizing content, managing group chats, or surfacing relevant info, Grok could boost Telegram’s functionality without annoying users.
But Telegram has to walk a fine line. Lean too far into AI and it could alienate the very users who made the app successful in the first place. Time will tell if the gamble pays off, or if Grok ends up being more noise than help.
As of now, everyone’s watching to see when the final papers are signed and how Grok actually performs once it’s live on the platform.
