Key Partnership Details
Telegram has entered into an agreement with xAI, Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence (AI) company, to integrate the Grok chatbot into its messaging platform for one year. In exchange, Telegram will receive a payment of $300 million and stock in Musk’s controlled group.
Additional Benefits for Telegram
Moreover, Telegram will also receive half of the revenue generated from paid subscriptions to xAI acquired through its app, announced Pavel Durov, Telegram’s CEO and co-founder, on social media platform X.
Grok Chatbot Availability and Timeline
According to Durov, Grok will be available starting this northern hemisphere summer. Telegram did not immediately respond to AFP’s request for comment.
Strategic Importance of the Partnership
The partnership’s terms may seem lopsided, but they allow xAI and Grok to tap into Telegram’s vast user base, estimated by Durov at over 1 billion people. Large-scale AI generative groups aim to accelerate the adoption of their respective assistants to achieve critical mass and monetize the substantial investments made in their development.
Grok’s Current Standing
Introduced in November 2023, Grok entered the conversational AI race late and lags significantly behind ChatGPT from OpenAI and Gemini from Google.
Subscription Plans for Grok
Currently, Grok is accessible through X with limitations for non-paying users. The platform offers three paid subscription plans, with the most expensive costing $40 per month or $395 annually.
Background on Telegram and its Founder
Pavel Durov, a 40-year-old Russian entrepreneur naturalized as French in 2021, co-founded Telegram alongside his brother Nikolai in 2013. Currently, Telegram is under investigation in France for illegal content on its popular messaging service.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the partnership between Telegram and xAI about? Telegram has agreed to integrate Grok, an AI chatbot developed by Elon Musk’s xAI, into its messaging platform for one year in exchange for $300 million and stock in Musk’s controlled group.
- What additional benefits does Telegram receive? Telegram will also get half of the revenue generated from paid subscriptions to xAI acquired through its app.
- When will Grok be available on Telegram? Grok is expected to be accessible starting this northern hemisphere summer.
- Why is this partnership significant for both parties? The collaboration allows xAI and Grok to reach Telegram’s massive user base, estimated at over 1 billion people, and accelerate the adoption of their AI assistants.
- How does Grok compare to other conversational AI models? Introduced late in 2023, Grok lags behind ChatGPT from OpenAI and Gemini from Google in terms of adoption and capabilities.
- What are the subscription plans for Grok? Grok is available through X with three paid subscription options, ranging from $40 per month to $395 annually.
- Who is Pavel Durov and what is his connection to Telegram? Pavel Durov, a Russian entrepreneur naturalized as French in 2021, co-founded Telegram with his brother Nikolai in 2013. He is currently the CEO and faces investigation in France for illegal content on Telegram’s messaging service.
