Elon Musk Launches AI Chatbot Grok on Telegram as Platform Hits 1 Billion Users

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. 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.”

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.