TELEGRAM TEAMS UP WITH XAI IN $300 MILLION DEAL TO BRING GROK AI TO ITS BILLION USERS

Imagine chatting with friends on Telegram and, with a quick search, summoning an Al assistant that can summarize a group discussion, generate a sticker, or fact-check a news link—all without leaving the app.

- 

That's the future Telegram is betting on with its newly announced $300 million partnership with Elon Musk’s xAl, revealed today, to integrate the Grok Al chatbot into its messaging platform.

The agreement, which includes $300 million in cash and equity from xAl and a 50% revenue share from Grok subscriptions sold via Telegram, positions the messaging giant to compete with rivals like WhatsApp while boosting its financial standing.

With Grok's ability to provide real-time insights and creative tools, Telegram aims to redefine user engagement, but questions about privacy and execution linger.

A STRATEGIC ALLIANCE FOR AI INNOVATION

Telegram’s partnership with xAI, announced by CEO Pavel Durov on X, is a one-year collaboration to distribute Grok to the platform's over one billion users, integrating it across all Telegram apps. The deal, combining cash and xAI equity, also grants Telegram 50% of revenue from Grok subscriptions sold through its platform, a financial boost for a company that earned $540 million in profit on $1.4 billion in revenue in 2024.

Durov framed the deal as a win for both parties, enhancing Telegram’s offerings while strengthening its fiscal position.

The agreement aligns with Telegram’s push to monetize its massive user base, following a $1.5 billion bond sale backed by BlackRock and Citadel to fund growth and a potential IPO. For xAI, the deal expands Grok’s reach beyond its X platform, where it rivals OpenAI’s ChatGPT, tapping into Telegram’s global audience to compete in a crowded AI chatbot space. The partnership marks Grok’s first major expansion into a non-Musk-owned platform, reflecting xAI’s aggressive distribution strategy.

GROK’S FEATURES ON TELEGRAM