Telegram announces $300 Mn partnership with Musk’s xAI

Telegram has announced a partnership with Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup, xAI, to integrate its chatbot Grok into the messaging platform for a year. The deal, according to Telegram founder Pavel Durov, is worth $300 million in cash and equity, and marks a significant move for both companies as they expand their presence in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

Durov said he and Musk struck a yearlong partnership that “strengthens Telegram’s financial position.”

In addition to the $300 million payment from xAI, Telegram will also earn 50% of the revenue from xAI subscriptions that are sold on the platform, according to Durov.

“This summer, Telegram users will gain access to the best AI technology on the market,” Durov wrote in his post announcing the partnership.

While Durov announced the deal as confirmed, Musk responded on X saying no formal agreement had been signed yet.

Telegram passed one billion monthly users in 2025, and the company is set to raise at least $1.5 billion in a bond issue on Wednesday, according to The Wall Street Journal report. The messaging platform is popular in countries such as Russia and Ukraine, where it is used by government officials and the military.

Durov is at present facing an investigation in France, where he is a citizen, for allegedly allowing criminal activity including drug trafficking, fraud and child pornography on Telegram.

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