@NewsAndTipsNT

Telegram Android Beta

◾️Version: 11.12.0
◾️Build: 59879

Changelog:

- fix empty topic on deleting top message in channel messages
- better scroll position when switching topics
- better animation in message bubbles when switching topics
- fix crashes on old android with bold font settings turned on

Telegram and xAI have agreed to a 1-year partnership to distribute Grok to Telegram’s billion+ users and integrate it into its apps. Telegram will receive $300M in cash and equity from xAI, plus 50% of revenue from xAI subscriptions sold via Telegram. Together, we win! ❤️📈🏆

- Durov

Thanks : 💌💌💌

Take on the Grok–Telegram Partnership

The partnership is set for one year, and as we've all seen, it introduces a fantastic set of features. If implemented effectively, it could be a major enhancement to Telegram, opening up plenty of opportunities for AI integration within the platform.

That said, it’s important to acknowledge that AI needs data to improve and evolve. Fortunately, based on the information provided in the video, only publicly available data and user-prompted inputs are sent to xAI. This means Grok’s integration isn’t overly aggressive when it comes to data collection. Given Telegram’s strong stance on privacy, I believe Durov isn’t likely to sell user data easily, staying true to Telegram’s ethos.

Looking ahead, since this is a one-year partnership, I see three possible paths for Telegram once the term ends:

1. Extend the partnership with Grok (xAI)

2. Collaborate with another AI provider

3. Develop its own AI solution

In my view, the third option is the most fitting for Telegram’s long-term vision. Independence in AI development would align with its values and reduce reliance on external partners. It’s also possible that this partnership is a temporary strategic move to compete with platforms like Meta, while Telegram builds its own AI infrastructure in the background.

Additionally, this move brings natural visibility and promotion from Elon Musk and through X (formerly Twitter), which is a marketing win for Telegram.

For those wondering why Telegram partnered with #xAI instead of ChatGPT—it's simple: #ChatGPT is in a dominant position and has no real incentive to negotiate or collaborate with Telegram. They don’t need #Telegram to succeed—they’re already at the top of the game. If Telegram had integrated ChatGPT, it would have made developing an independent AI to compete with it much harder. So in many ways, this partnership with xAI is a smarter move. It gives Telegram flexibility and keeps the door open for future independence.

@NewsAndTipsNT

Telegram Android Beta

◾️Version: 11.12.0
◾️Build: 59919

Changelog:

- save last opened topic in channel messages
- "sent by" on outgoing messages menu in channel messages
- fixes on animations switching with side tabs
- show name author in photos/albums when sidetabs are enabled
- fix voice resuming recording after closing app
- fix hd photos with crop and painted
- arrows in topic separators
- support reply in/quote into channel messages
- fix forward after switching topics
- fix messages flickering after topics switching

@NewsAndTipsNT

Telegram Android Beta

◾️Version: 11.12.0
◾️Build: 59959

Changelog:

- new emojis support 🫩🫆🪏🫟🪾🫜🪉🇨🇶
- move back to all chats when pressing back
- close keyboard when switching topics
- open profile of user/channel in channel messages by pressing action bar
- fix avatar on stickers near via bot label
- too long names in topic separators, horizontal tabs fix
- crash fix

New Emojis

NFT-Gifts on the Blockchain Can Also Become Invalid

Even upgraded gifts sent to the TON blockchain as NFTs can be downgraded to regular gifts or become completely invalid in Telegram. This happens if the stars used to purchase or upgrade the gift are refunded.

How does gift status get downgraded?

For example, a user buys stars via the App Store or Google Play, then purchases and/or upgrades a gift. After 21 days, they send the gift to the TON blockchain as an NFT and later request a refund for the stars. If the refund is approved, Telegram marks the gift as invalid: it can no longer be set on the profile, used as a status, or transferred to another user. However, the NFT itself remains in the user’s wallet on the blockchain.

Sometimes, users purchase stars through unreliable services or P2P deals. In these cases, the seller may initiate a refund, which also results in the gift being burned. We’ve previously covered such cases on the @tginfo channel.

Why does this matter?

Even if the gift becomes invalid in Telegram, it still exists as an NFT and can be listed for sale on marketplaces like Fragment.com, Getgems.io, and others. However, these platforms don’t display warnings about the gift’s status in Telegram, which may mislead buyers who expect to use the gift in their profile.

We recommend checking the status of NFT gifts before purchasing. You can do this using the link format: t.me/nft/GiftName-XXX, replacing “GiftName-XXX” with the correct name (no spaces) and number. For example, Plush Pepe #1098 would be: t.me/nft/PlushPepe-1098.

The Dmitry Korobeynikov channel has already shared examples of gifts listed for sale but no longer usable in Telegram, and also reported that some of these gifts have since been fully restored and are now functional again in Telegram.

Source: 💌💌💌