xAI to pay telegram $300M to integrate Grok into the chat app

Privacy, Encryption, and Data Use

• Many assume the real goal is using Telegram chats as training data for Grok; several say they will leave the platform over this.
• Long subthread on Telegram’s security: not end‑to‑end encrypted by default; messages are encrypted in transit but plaintext on Telegram’s servers. Secret chats exist but are rarely used.
• Others note E2EE doesn’t help if an AI “data harvester” is integrated into the client, or if endpoints/OS are compromised.
• Strong concern that this enables large‑scale surveillance and intelligence gathering, especially given Telegram’s heavy use in conflict zones and censored countries.
• Some argue “if it’s free, you are the product” and use implies consent; others flatly reject that as a notion of consent.

Business Logic and Comparisons

• Many compare this to Google paying Apple/Mozilla to be default search or OpenAI’s various distribution deals.
• One camp: this is normal distribution/marketing—Telegram has ~1B users, xAI is paying for default status, mindshare, and future upsell (premium AI tiers, SuperGrok, etc.).
• Another camp: if you must pay platforms and users don’t clamor for you, your product/brand is weak; this is “AI being shoved down throats” to prop up inflated valuations.
• Some see the main asset as exclusive, high‑resolution conversational data in many regions; $300M is viewed as cheap relative to AI valuations and data scarcity.
• A few note xAI’s low external traction and argue this is partly about juicing user metrics and “being in the race,” not just direct ROI.

Grok’s Bias and Telegram’s Reputation

• Multiple comments call Grok “toxic” or “racist slop,” citing its unsolicited “white genocide in South Africa” outputs as evidence of political skew/mismanagement.
• Others say Grok 3 is technically one of the better general models but acknowledge many will never touch it because of its owner’s politics.
• Telegram is described as “shady” or a hub for scams, malware, piracy, and extremist content, though some argue that’s true of any powerful communications tool.
• Concern that scammers and malware authors will integrate Grok into their Telegram‑based tooling.

User Experience, Consent, and Migration

• Unclear how intrusive the integration will be: optional bot vs woven into chats vs default assistant; several say their reaction depends entirely on that.
• Some long‑time Telegram fans (including premium users) say they’ll quit if Grok is “forced” into the app; others expect it to be mostly ignorable, like other advanced features.
• Reports that certain communities (notably furries and other privacy‑sensitive groups) are already spinning up backup rooms and accelerating moves to Signal, Matrix, or self‑hosted options.
• Others are resigned: Telegram has already “sold its soul” via ads, spam, and limited moderation; this is seen as another step in enshitification.

Power, Politics, and Surveillance

• Several see this as deepening a surveillance and influence stack: rockets, satellites, social network, and now a major chat app’s AI layer.
• Some speculate that training on Telegram’s global, often politicized content will further tilt Grok toward the owner’s worldview.
• Others link this to a broader pattern: AI integrations used as cover for data extraction and political or commercial manipulation rather than genuine user needs.

Deal Status and Trust

• Later in the thread, users note public statements that “no deal has been signed” yet, followed by clarification that an agreement in principle exists but formalities are pending.
• This mismatch in public messaging is seen by some as emblematic of a business culture where big announcements precede finalized agreements and where “total shamelessness” is an asset.