Elon Musk’s xAI Pays $300M to Bring Grok to Telegram

Elon Musk, the Tesla (TSLA) CEO, just made his most calculated entry into the messaging space. His AI firm xAI has inked a $300 million deal with Telegram to integrate Grok, its flagship chatbot, directly into the platform’s core experience. The one-year partnership aims to roll out Grok to Telegram’s billion-user base starting this summer, according to Telegram CEO Pavel Durov.

The deal includes a mix of cash and equity, plus a 50% revenue share from xAI subscriptions sold through Telegram. Neither Musk nor xAI have commented yet, but Durov made the announcement public in a May 28 post on both X and his own Telegram channel.

Grok Goes Native in Telegram

Grok won’t be a bolt-on — it’s being wired directly into the Telegram experience. According to a launch video posted by Durov, users will be able to access Grok from the app’s search bar, where it will power features like threaded conversations, smart editing tools, chat summaries, document digests, and even group moderation.

This isn’t just an AI plugin. It’s an executed strategy to embed xAI deep into the way Telegram users communicate, edit, and manage their chats. Durov called it “the best AI technology on the market,” and promised full feature access this summer.

Telegram Tightens Ties with Crypto and AI

The partnership adds to a flood of Telegram-related headlines this week. Alongside the xAI deal, BlackRock (BLK) was reported to be participating in Telegram’s $1.5B bond raise, while former Visa crypto exec Nikola Plecas joined the TON Foundation as VP of Payments.

Toncoin (TONCOIN-USD), Telegram’s official crypto token for in-app services, surged over 20% on the day. It’s now trading at $3.60 with a market cap nearing $9 billion, fueled by the AI news and growing institutional interest.

Musk hasn’t launched a Telegram channel yet, but the setup feels inevitable. Telegram is no longer just a distribution partner — it’s now ground zero for xAI, and the latest front in Musk’s push to control the future of AI chat.

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