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Elon Musk's xAI Partners with Telegram in $300M Deal for Grok Chatbot

Elon Musk's startup xAI has signed a $300 million partnership with Telegram to deploy its Grok chatbot on the messaging platform. Telegram will also earn 50% from xAI subscription revenues generated on its platform. The collaboration aims to boost Telegram's finances and deliver advanced AI features to its over one billion users. xAI’s Grok chatbot faced recent controversies but is undergoing improvements to ensure reliability.

Elon Musk's xAI Partners with Telegram in $300M Deal for Grok Chatbot

Elon Musk's artificial intelligence startup, xAI, has entered into a significant partnership with the Dubai-based messaging platform Telegram. According to Telegram CEO Pavel Durov, xAI is paying Telegram $300 million to facilitate the rollout of its Grok chatbot on the platform.

Durov announced on Wednesday that the collaboration will last for one year and is designed to strengthen Telegram's financial position. Beyond the initial payment, Telegram will receive 50% of the revenue generated from xAI subscriptions sold through its service. "This summer, Telegram users will gain access to the best AI technology on the market," Durov stated.

Telegram, which surpassed 1 billion monthly active users in 2025, is especially popular in regions such as Russia and Ukraine where it is widely used by government officials and military personnel. The company plans to raise at least $1.5 billion through a bond issuance this week.

Despite its growth, Telegram has faced legal challenges. Pavel Durov, a French citizen and Russian-born entrepreneur who relocated to the United Arab Emirates in 2014, is currently under investigation in France over allegations that illegal activities—including drug trafficking and child pornography—were facilitated on Telegram’s platform. Authorities have restricted his travel without authorization. Nevertheless, Telegram insists it complies with European Union laws and that Durov has "nothing to hide."

In a broader context, xAI merged with Musk’s social media company X in March, with valuations placing the AI firm at $80 billion and X at $33 billion. However, the Grok chatbot recently encountered controversy when it responded to user queries about South Africa with off-topic comments linked to apartheid. xAI attributed these responses to an unauthorized tampering that violated the company’s policies. Following an internal investigation, xAI announced steps to improve Grok’s transparency and reliability.

Industry experts highlight that such incidents underscore vulnerabilities in AI systems, which can be susceptible to manipulation.

Nvidia to Introduce Budget AI GPUs for China Amid Export Restrictions
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OpenAI Partners with UAE to Launch Major AI Data Center, ChatGPT Plus Pricing Unchanged
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Elon Musk's xAI Partners With Telegram to Launch Grok Chatbot
Elon Musk's xAI Partners With Telegram to Launch Grok Chatbot

Elon Musk’s AI firm xAI has partnered with Telegram to integrate its Grok chatbot across the messaging app, accessing Telegram’s billion-plus users. The $300 million one-year agreement includes sharing half of subscription sales with Telegram and could supply valuable data for AI model development, reinforcing both firms' positions in the AI sector.

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Netflix Chairman Reed Hastings Joins Anthropic's Board to Advance AI Ethics
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Meta AI Reaches One Billion Monthly Users, Plans Paid Features
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Nvidia CEO Criticizes Export Controls Impacting China Market Access
Nvidia CEO Criticizes Export Controls Impacting China Market Access

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Nvidia CEO Emphasizes Strategic Importance of AI Chip Exports to China
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Elon Musk Concludes Government Role, Thanks Trump, Focuses on Businesses
Elon Musk Concludes Government Role, Thanks Trump, Focuses on Businesses

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Musk-Altman AI Rivalry Disrupts Trump's Middle East AI Dealmaking
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Elon Musk’s xAI Eyes $5 Billion Debt Raise Amid Lukewarm Investor Interest
Elon Musk’s xAI Eyes $5 Billion Debt Raise Amid Lukewarm Investor Interest

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Elon Musk’s xAI Burns $1 Billion Monthly Amid Rising AI Development Costs
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NAACP and Environmental Groups Challenge Elon Musk’s xAI Gas Turbine Permits in Memphis
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Elon Musk Dismisses ‘Researcher’ Title, Advocates Unified Engineering Team at xAI
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Elon Musk has publicly dismissed the traditional title of 'researcher' at his AI startup xAI, advocating for all technical staff to be called 'engineers' instead. He argues that this change eliminates hierarchical divisions, promotes practical problem-solving, and accelerates innovation. However, some experts warn that sidelining dedicated research roles may risk the depth and ethical oversight crucial to AI’s complex future. Musk’s move spotlights a growing industry trend toward streamlined, results-driven teams, raising important questions about balancing engineering pragmatism with foundational inquiry.

Elon Musk's Influence on Trump's Administration: Insights from Ebrahim Rasool
Elon Musk's Influence on Trump's Administration: Insights from Ebrahim Rasool

Former South African Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool reveals the significant influence of Elon Musk on the Trump administration in a recent interview. He discusses the necessity of engaging with Musk regarding Starlink for access to the White House, reflecting on the diplomatic tensions following his expulsion. Rasool claims that several influential South Africans, including Peter Thiel, are shaping U.S. policy, especially in regard to tech competition and foreign relations.

Elon Musk Explains Causes Behind SpaceX Starship Crash Over Indian Ocean
Elon Musk Explains Causes Behind SpaceX Starship Crash Over Indian Ocean

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BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman Demands December Election in Bangladesh
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Joby Aviation Soars 20% on $250M Investment from Toyota for eVTOL Development
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