Musk Denies Signed Deal with Telegram Despite Grok Integration Talks

Elon Musk contradicted Telegram founder Pavel Durov’s announcement of a partnership to integrate xAI’s Grok model into the messaging platform. Musk stated no formal agreement exists, though Durov claimed an "agreement in principle" was reached during discussions. The proposed deal WOULD have injected $300 million in cash and equity into Telegram while sharing Grok subscription revenue.

Telegram faces financial pressure with over $1 billion in bond debt maturing soon. Durov seeks alternative funding streams after historically financing operations through personal loans. The potential xAI collaboration represents a strategic MOVE to monetize Telegram’s user base while expanding Grok’s distribution channels.

xAI enters an increasingly competitive AI landscape against established players like OpenAI and Google. Musk’s firm trains Grok on public data and licensed X content, positioning it as a conversational AI alternative. The Telegram integration could have significantly expanded Grok’s reach among crypto-native users.