Elon Musk launches AI chatbot Grok on Telegram as platform hits 1 billion users

Musk's Grok aims to capture new markets with its debut on Telegram, amid growing competition in the AI space.

Cover art/illustration via CryptoSlate. Image includes combined content which may include AI-generated content.

Grok, the artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot developed under Elon Musk’s tech ecosystem, is now available on Telegram.

The expansion was officially announced in a March 26 post on X (formerly Twitter), marking Grok’s first significant move beyond the X platform.

Elon Musk said on X:

“Grok now on Telegram.”

According to Grok, the chatbot is only available to Telegram users with a premium subscription. Users can start chatting by searching for “GrokAI” on Telegram.

However, features like “Think” and “DeepSearch” are still tied to the X platform or the standalone Grok app.

Telegram reaches 1 billion users

This move comes as Telegram hits a significant milestone in its user base.

On March 19, the social messaging application founder Pavel Durov shared that Telegram now has over 1 billion monthly active users. This surge makes it the world’s third-largest messaging platform after WhatsApp, and China’s WeChat.

Durov also noted rising engagement levels. On average, users now open the app 21 times a day and spend around 41 minutes daily.

Telegram’s financials reflect this growth, with the platform generating $547 million in profit during 2024. He highlighted Telegram’s independence and steady rise, contrasting it with larger rivals.

According to him:

“Ahead of us stands only WhatsApp — a cheap, watered-down imitation of Telegram. For years, they’ve tried to copy us while burning billions on lobbying and PR to slow us down. They failed. Telegram grew, became profitable, and — unlike our competitor — retained its independence.”

AIs go multi-platform

Grok’s expansion is part of a broader trend among AI companies. More chatbots are branching out from their original platforms to capture new markets.

In late 2024, OpenAI introduced ChatGPT on WhatsApp, including a voice support line for North America. That move placed it in direct competition with Meta’s own AI assistant.

These shifts show that the AI race is no longer platform-bound. Leading developers are now embedding smart assistants into everyday apps, aiming to become the default AI layer across messaging, search, and conversation.

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