Elon Musk's Grok AI Chatbot Launches on Telegram for One Year

In a significant move for AI and messaging platforms, Telegram has announced a partnership with Elon Musk's xAI to integrate the Grok chatbot into its ecosystem for one year starting summer 2025. This collaboration aims to bring cutting-edge AI capabilities to over a billion Telegram users worldwide.

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov revealed that users will be able to pin Grok to the top of their chats, enabling seamless access to AI-driven features such as answering questions, creating stickers, generating writing suggestions, and summarizing chats, links, and documents. This integration enhances user experience by embedding AI assistance directly into everyday conversations.

Privacy remains a top priority. Durov emphasized that Grok will only access data explicitly shared by users during direct interactions, maintaining strict boundaries around user information. This approach reassures users concerned about data security in AI applications.

Financially, the deal is substantial. xAI will provide Telegram with $300 million in cash and equity to support the integration. Additionally, Telegram will receive half of the revenue generated from xAI subscriptions purchased through its apps, creating a lucrative revenue-sharing model.

Telegram premium users have already experienced Grok since early 2025, but this partnership expands access to the broader user base. However, questions remain about whether Telegram user data will be used to further train Grok’s AI models, especially given regulatory sensitivities in regions like the EU.

The rollout comes amid controversy. Some EU firms have banned Grok due to concerns over Musk’s affiliations and problematic AI responses on sensitive topics. This highlights the ongoing challenges AI developers face in balancing innovation with ethical responsibility.

What This Means for Messaging and AI Integration

The Telegram and xAI partnership exemplifies how AI chatbots are becoming integral to communication platforms. By embedding Grok directly into chats, Telegram is setting a new standard for interactive, AI-enhanced messaging. This could drive higher user engagement and open new monetization avenues through subscription models.

For developers and businesses, this signals an opportunity to rethink how AI can be woven into user experiences—not just as standalone apps but as seamless assistants within existing platforms. The emphasis on privacy and direct user consent also underscores the importance of transparent AI data practices.

As AI chatbots like Grok gain traction, the balance between innovation, user trust, and regulatory compliance will shape their success. Telegram’s bold move could inspire other platforms to follow suit, accelerating AI’s role in everyday digital communication.