Telegram Partners with Elon Musk’s xAI in $300 Million Grok Deal

Messaging platform Telegram is set to integrate Grok, the AI chatbot developed by Elon Musk’s xAI, into its app as part of a major new partnership aimed at expanding AI access to over one billion users.

Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov confirmed the deal in a social media post, stating that the collaboration will run for a year and bring in $300 million in cash and equity for Telegram. Additionally, Telegram will receive 50% of all xAI subscription revenue generated through its platform.

“Together, we win!” Durov wrote, announcing the agreement, which marks a significant push by xAI to expand Grok’s reach beyond Musk-owned X (formerly Twitter).

The deal mirrors a wider trend in the tech industry, as social platforms race to embed AI features within their ecosystems. Meta recently integrated its AI assistant into WhatsApp, a move that drew criticism from users concerned about changes to the platform’s original purpose.

Analyst Hanna Kahlert of Midia Research commented on the growing overlap between social media and AI, suggesting that while the tech world embraces the blend, it may not align with what users actually want. “Adding AI into direct messaging inherently supplants that – it reduces trust between users and distracts from the current USP,” she said.

The Telegram-xAI partnership also brings together two of tech’s most controversial figures. Durov, who was arrested in France in 2024 over allegations related to Telegram’s content moderation, has repeatedly defended the platform’s cooperation with law enforcement. Telegram has often been accused of harboring criminal activity due to its encrypted, private channels, but the company maintains that its moderation practices are adequate.

Musk, meanwhile, continues to expand his AI ventures. After departing OpenAI – where he was a co-founder—he launched xAI to compete with industry leaders. Earlier this year, he acquired X (formerly Twitter) under xAI’s banner, valuing the company at $80 billion. His other ventures span from SpaceX and Tesla to Neuralink, and his outspoken political affiliations have drawn increasing scrutiny.

Despite this, Musk remains focused on positioning xAI as a key player in the artificial intelligence space, and the Telegram partnership is his latest strategic move in that direction.

The integration of Grok into Telegram is expected to roll out later this year.