Encrypted messaging platform Telegram has announced a major partnership with Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company, xAI. Under the deal, Telegram will integrate xAI’s conversational assistant, Grok, into its platform, making it available to its more than one billion users.

Telegram founder and CEO Pavel Durov said the agreement, which spans one year, will bring $300 million in a combination of cash and equity from xAI to Telegram. In addition, Telegram will receive 50% of all revenue generated from xAI subscriptions purchased through its app.

"Together, we win!" Durov declared in a social media post, celebrating the partnership.

This collaboration follows a broader trend of AI tools being embedded into messaging services. Meta recently introduced an AI assistant into WhatsApp, though the move prompted user backlash and raised concerns over user experience and trust.

Media analyst Hanna Kahlert from Midia Research commented that the Telegram-xAI partnership reflects the ongoing fusion of social platforms and AI technologies. However, she warned that this may not align with user preferences.
"Most users come to social apps to connect with friends," Kahlert said. "Injecting AI into these interactions risks undermining trust and diluting what makes these platforms unique."

Controversial Figures and a Complex Landscape

The partnership also unites two high-profile and often controversial tech entrepreneurs. Telegram's Durov has faced scrutiny in recent years, most notably following his arrest in France in August 2024. He was accused of failing to effectively moderate content on Telegram, a platform critics have described as the “dark web in your pocket” due to its use by criminal networks.

Durov has firmly denied accusations of non-cooperation with law enforcement, particularly in cases involving drugs, child exploitation, and financial fraud. Telegram continues to push back against claims that its content moderation is inadequate.

Elon Musk, meanwhile, maintains a sprawling portfolio of tech ventures. He’s involved in everything from brain-computer interfaces via Neuralink to space exploration with SpaceX. Musk also holds political sway, having played a key role in supporting Donald Trump’s administration, a factor analysts say has hurt Tesla’s market position in recent months.

His interest in AI has been longstanding. Musk co-founded OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, but left the organization amid disagreements with CEO Sam Altman. He later tried—and failed—to take control of OpenAI.

Now, Musk is positioning xAI as a major competitor in the AI space. In March, he revealed that xAI had acquired X (formerly Twitter), giving the AI venture a valuation of $80 billion.

With Grok now heading to Telegram, both companies are betting big on reshaping how users interact with messaging apps—whether users are ready for it or not.