Telegram Lands $300M Deal With Elon Musk’s xAI to Host Grok Chatbot

In a move that could reshape the future of AI integration in messaging platforms, Telegram CEO Pavel Durov announced a $300 million partnership with Elon Musk’s xAI to bring its controversial Grok chatbot to the platform. The high-stakes deal, revealed Wednesday, is one of the most significant single tech collaborations of the year and signals Telegram’s deeper dive into the AI race.

The one-year partnership will enable Telegram’s 1+ billion users to access xAI’s Grok chatbot, while providing the platform with a significant financial boost and a 50% revenue share from all xAI subscriptions sold through Telegram. “This strengthens Telegram’s financial position,” Durov said in a post, adding that the deal would bring “the best AI technology on the market” to its global user base.

Though Elon Musk later commented that “no deal has been signed,” Telegram’s rollout of Grok appears to be on track, with availability expected this summer. Neither company has responded to follow-up media requests, fueling speculation about the fine print of the agreement.

AI Meets Messaging: A Strategic Shift

The agreement aligns with Elon Musk’s vision of embedding Grok across multiple platforms following the $80 billion merger of xAI with X (formerly Twitter) earlier this year. Grok’s expansion into Telegram marks its first large-scale deployment outside of X, reflecting growing ambitions for AI presence in consumer apps.

For Telegram, the deal offers more than a payday. As the company raises $1.5 billion through a bond issue to support expansion, the added revenue from xAI could boost investor confidence amid growing scrutiny of the app’s governance and content moderation policies.

Controversy and Opportunity

Grok’s track record has been rocky. The chatbot recently came under fire for generating bizarre responses on racially sensitive topics, including “white genocide,” prompting xAI to issue an apology and investigate an “unauthorised modification.” The incident highlighted the vulnerability of AI models to manipulation and the reputational risks that come with them.

Yet, for Telegram, the potential upside seems worth it. The platform, popular across Russia, Ukraine, and the Middle East, is aiming to diversify its monetisation streams amid ongoing legal issues for Pavel Durov, who is currently under investigation in France for allegedly permitting illicit activities on Telegram. Despite these challenges, Telegram maintains its position that it complies with EU regulations, and Durov has publicly stated he has “nothing to hide.”

Elon Musk’s xAI Unleashes Grok 3: AI Model That Could Outperform ChatGPT?

What’s Next for Grok on Telegram?

According to Pavel Durov, Telegram users will begin to see Grok integration as early as summer 2025, with features tailored specifically for the platform. The integration positions Telegram as a key player in the global AI race, competing not just with WhatsApp and Signal, but now with AI-forward platforms like ChatGPT and Claude.

As Elon Musk bets big on Grok’s scalability and Telegram seeks new revenue channels, their partnership represents a $300 million experiment in the future of AI-powered messaging. Whether it soars or spirals will depend on how users respond.