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Elon Musk’s xAI is partnering with Telegram to bring its AI capabilities to the encrypted messaging service. Pavel Durov, Telegram’s founder, revealed that the AI assistant Grok will be integrated directly into Telegram’s apps and offered to the platform’s more than one billion users, enhancing user interaction through advanced AI features.
Mr Durov said the arrangement - which is due to last a year - would see his company receive $300m (£223m) in cash and equity from xAI, plus 50% of revenue from xAI subscriptions sold via Telegram.
"Together, we win!", he posted on social media.
It follows Meta incorporating an AI service into its messaging service, WhatsApp - a development it was forced to defend after grumbling from users.
Mr Durov was arrested in France in August 2024, after being accused of failing to properly moderate his app to reduce criminality. Critics had branded the platform the "dark web in your pocket" because of what they said was the amount of criminal activity being discussed on the platform.
However, Mr Durov has denied failing to cooperate with law enforcement over drug trafficking, child sexual abuse content and fraud. The platform has also rejected accusations that its moderation policies are not sufficiently robust.
Mr Musk has an incredibly broad range of tech interests, ranging from brain implant start-up Neuralink to his rocket manufacturing firm, SpaceX.
He also has a prominent role in the administration of US President Donald Trump, and campaigned heavily to get him elected - something that analysts say is contributing to slumping sales at his best known firm, electric car maker Tesla.
The world's richest man has also invested heavily in AI. He was a co-founder of the world's best known AI firm, OpenAI, the company which makes ChatGPT. He subsequently left and became involved in a long-running row with OpenAI's boss, Sam Altman, over its future direction.
Earlier this year, Mr Musk spearheaded a failed attempt to buy it.
He has also been seeking to develop xAI as a rival to OpenAI and other industry leaders.
