Durov Archives

AppWizard

May 30, 2025

Telegram, Elon Musk’s xAI partner to distribute Grok to messaging app’s users

Pavel Durov, CEO of Telegram, announced a partnership with Elon Musk's xAI to integrate the AI model Grok into Telegram, benefiting its over one billion users. The one-year agreement will provide Telegram with significant financial support, including 0 million in cash and equity from xAI, as well as 50% of revenue from xAI subscriptions sold through Telegram. Grok 3, launched in February, is claimed by Musk to outperform other leading AI models in various fields.

AppWizard

May 29, 2025

Vietnam orders ban on Telegram messaging app over security concerns

Vietnam's telecommunications providers have been instructed to block access to Telegram due to national security concerns and alleged non-compliance with local laws. The Ministry of Information and Communications claims that 70% of Telegram channels in Vietnam are linked to illicit activities, including fraud and drug trafficking. Officials allege that Telegram has failed to remove illegal content and provide user data for investigations. A spokesperson for Telegram stated that the company had responded to legal requests from Vietnam. Vietnam has a history of enforcing strict online content controls, previously threatening to block Facebook and discussing a ban on TikTok. Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, was arrested in France earlier this year over allegations related to cybercrime and expressed his commitment to improving the platform's security in light of its rapid user growth to 950 million.

AppWizard

May 29, 2025

Elon Musk’s xAI partners with messaging app Telegram in $300 million Grok deal

Elon Musk has launched xAI, aiming to uncover fundamental truths of the universe. The startup has partnered with Telegram, agreeing to a 0 million investment for the Grok AI chatbot. Telegram will receive the initial payment and 50% of revenue from xAI subscriptions sold through its platform. Telegram's CEO, Pavel Durov, mentioned that users can expect advanced AI technology by summer, although Musk later stated that "no deal has been signed." Telegram has over one billion monthly users as of 2025 and is preparing to raise at least .5 billion through a bond issue. Durov is under investigation in France for allowing criminal activities on Telegram and is restricted from leaving the country. xAI has merged with X, valuing the AI company at billion and the social media platform at billion. Grok faced criticism for generating controversial responses, which xAI attributed to an unauthorized modification. The company is working to improve Grok's transparency and reliability.

AppWizard

May 28, 2025

Telegram Signs $300M Deal With Elon Musk’s xAI to Integrate Grok AI Into Its Messaging App

Telegram has partnered with Elon Musk's xAI to integrate the Grok AI service into its app for one year. The agreement includes a financial component of 0 million in cash and equity from xAI, along with 50% of the revenue from xAI subscriptions sold on Telegram. Telegram is also seeking to raise .5 billion through a bond offering, supported by investors like BlackRock, Mubadala, and Citadel, to repurchase debt from a previous bond issuance in 2021. Telegram reported a profit of million on revenues of .4 billion in 2024, and the TON token, the native currency of the TON Network, rose 18.5% following the announcement.

AppWizard

May 28, 2025

Elon Musk’s xAI, Telegram Partner To Distribute Grok To Messaging App’s Users

Elon Musk's AI venture, xAI, has partnered with Telegram in a [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: Elon Musk's AI venture, xAI, has embarked on a significant partnership with Telegram, agreeing to a 0 million deal to integrate its Grok chatbot into the popular messaging platform. This strategic move aims to leverage Telegram's vast user base, which exceeds one billion, thereby enhancing xAI's position in the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence landscape. Details of the Partnership As part of the one-year agreement, xAI will not only provide its advanced chatbot technology but will also share half of any subscription revenue generated through Telegram. Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, announced this collaboration in a recent post on X, highlighting the potential benefits for both parties involved. The financial arrangement will be fulfilled through a combination of cash and stock, further solidifying the partnership's foundation. This collaboration comes on the heels of xAI's acquisition of X earlier this year, a deal that valued the social media platform at an impressive billion. The partnership with Telegram is expected to furnish xAI with essential data to refine and enhance its AI models, a critical factor as the industry grapples with the challenge of sourcing quality data amidst a landscape of exhausted open-source repositories. In a time when many AI companies, including major players like Meta Platforms, are increasingly relying on public interactions for model training, the integration of Grok into Telegram could provide xAI with a unique opportunity to gather valuable insights. While Telegram's privacy policy remains a point of interest, it is yet to be clarified whether xAI will adopt a similar approach to data utilization as seen with X. " max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.7" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"] million deal to integrate its Grok chatbot into the messaging platform. The one-year agreement includes sharing half of any subscription revenue generated through Telegram. Pavel Durov, Telegram's founder, announced the collaboration, which will be financed through cash and stock. This partnership follows xAI's acquisition of X, valued at billion, and aims to provide xAI with essential data to enhance its AI models. The integration of Grok into Telegram may offer xAI valuable insights, although the implications of Telegram's privacy policy on data utilization remain unclear.

AppWizard

May 24, 2025

Vietnam orders ban on popular messaging app Telegram

Vietnam's Ministry of Science and Technology has accused the messaging app Telegram of not cooperating in addressing criminal activities conducted by its users. The ministry has instructed internet service providers to restrict Telegram's operations in the country, citing that nearly 70 percent of the 9,600 channels on the app disseminate harmful information and engage in illegal activities such as selling user data and drug trafficking. A Telegram representative stated the company has been timely in addressing legal requests from Vietnam and is processing a recent request. Despite the government's actions, Telegram was still accessible in Vietnam as of Friday. In Vietnam, approximately 11.8 million users use Telegram, while the app has nearly one billion users globally.

AppWizard

May 24, 2025

Vietnam orders messaging app Telegram to be blocked

Vietnam's technology ministry has mandated telecommunication service providers to block the messaging application Telegram due to its alleged non-cooperation in addressing criminal activities associated with its users. This directive, dated May 21, requires telecom companies to restrict access to Telegram and report their actions to the ministry by June 2. A report from the police indicated that 68% of the 9,600 Telegram channels and groups in Vietnam are violating local laws, including fraud and drug trafficking. The ministry highlighted the need for providers to implement measures to prevent Telegram's activities in the country. Telegram has faced scrutiny for not complying with requests for user data during criminal investigations, and the Vietnamese government has previously urged other companies like Facebook and YouTube to help eliminate content deemed "toxic."

AppWizard

May 24, 2025

Surprising: Telegram slams Vietnam’s decision to block messaging app

Vietnam's technology ministry has mandated telecom providers to restrict access to Telegram due to concerns about the app's failure to combat criminal activities and disseminate illegal content. A government document from May 21 instructed telecom companies to limit access, citing that 68 percent of the 9,600 Telegram channels and groups in Vietnam were linked to illegal activities such as fraud, drug trafficking, and potential terrorism. The ministry criticized Telegram for not cooperating with investigations, particularly regarding user data requests. Despite the directive, Telegram remained accessible in Vietnam as of the latest report. The situation is part of Vietnam's broader digital crackdown, which has included pressure on other platforms to remove content deemed harmful by the government. Telegram has previously faced scrutiny regarding its security and privacy practices.

AppWizard

May 22, 2025

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov launches $50K viral video contest to expose WhatsApp’s ‘cheap copycat’ moves | – The Times of India

Telegram has launched a contest with a prize pool of 0,000 inviting participants to create a viral video that showcases Telegram's technological innovations compared to WhatsApp. The contest was announced on May 19, 2025, and submissions are due by May 26, 2025. It is open to global participants, with videos required to be in English and suitable for platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels. The contest allows the use of AI tools and evaluates entries based on clarity, visual impact, meme potential, and virality. Pavel Durov, the founder of Telegram, has publicly accused WhatsApp of smear campaigns and emphasizes Telegram's commitment to privacy and political neutrality, rejecting government requests to censor political content. The contest aims to expand Telegram's user base and engage content creators by promoting its unique features, which include end-to-end encrypted chats, large group chats, bots, and advanced privacy controls. Winners will be announced in June 2025.

AppWizard

April 24, 2025

Technology behind private messaging app Telegram names Maximilian…

The TON Foundation will announce Maximilian Crown as its new CEO on Thursday. This appointment aims to stabilize Telegram, which has a user base of one billion, following the arrest of its founder Pavel Durov in Paris last year. Crown's leadership is seen as a significant step for Telegram, demonstrating its commitment to expanding its multi-functional app amid governmental pressures to access user data. Crown has experience as CFO and COO of MoonPay and has successfully secured operational approvals across various countries. Telegram has transformed into a “Super App,” integrating features such as gaming, shopping, and payment functionalities. The Telegram Open Network (TON) has 41 million active accounts and 121 million Toncoin holders. Toncoin's value is tied to Telegram's fortunes, experiencing fluctuations following Durov's arrest. Concerns have been raised regarding the impact of French authorities' actions on Telegram’s blockchain initiatives, especially related to digital privacy and government oversight. Durov was detained for 96 hours and criticized the scrutiny faced by Telegram, warning against legislative efforts that threaten individual freedoms.