Telegram introduced several important updates in spring and summer 2025 across automation, monetization, security, communication formats, and AI. This article explains what’s new and how you can apply these features in business, content creation, and daily communication.
1. AI Comes to Telegram: Meet Grok
Telegram has officially stepped into the AI arena by introducing Grok — a smart assistant built by Elon Musk’s xAI. Available exclusively to Premium users, Grok functions as a standalone chatbot right inside the Telegram app. You can ask it questions, delegate tasks, or simply chat — no extra apps or extensions required.
Powered by xAI’s proprietary language model, Grok is Telegram’s first major move toward integrating AI into everyday messaging. It’s fast, conversational, and always available — right from your chat list.
2. Telegram’s Built-In Monetization: Stars, Paid Channels, and Digital Gifts
Telegram is quickly evolving into more than just a messaging app — it’s becoming a fully-fledged platform for creators to earn income. Here’s how.
Telegram Stars and Digital Gifts
Earlier this year, Telegram introduced Telegram Stars, a virtual currency that users can buy and use to send digital gifts — animated stickers or expressive emojis. These can be attached to individual messages or even pinned to someone’s profile. It’s a playful and visual way to show appreciation, similar to tipping, but fully integrated into the Telegram interface.
For creators, this is more than just a nice gesture: it’s a new monetization channel. Telegram lets authors receive a share of the revenue from these purchases, making even everyday interaction a potential source of income.
Paid Channels and Groups
In addition to Stars, Telegram now allows creators to offer paid subscriptions for exclusive channels and groups. Users can subscribe through Telegram Premium, and Telegram pays a portion of that subscription to the channel owner via a Revenue Share model.
This feature is especially useful for creators who produce premium content — educational series, consulting groups, community chats, or insider news. The key benefit? No need for third-party paywalls. Everything is managed directly in Telegram.
Why This Matters
These tools are building a sustainable in-app economy. Whether you run a private coaching group or publish long-form articles, you can now earn money inside the same platform where your audience already lives. For creators, educators, and media projects, that means fewer steps, more control — and no commission losses to outside platforms.
3. New Communication Features: Stories, Hashtags, and Direct Messages
Telegram is not just catching up with other social platforms — it’s creating its own hybrid of messaging, media, and interaction. Here’s what’s new in how users can communicate and discover content.
Direct Messages to Channel Admins
One of the most requested features has finally arrived: direct messaging to channel owners. If a channel enables the feature, subscribers can now send private messages to the admins. These messages appear in a dedicated chat thread, creating a streamlined way for feedback, support, or business inquiries — all without needing to leave Telegram.
This update strengthens the connection between creators and their audiences, turning passive followers into active participants.
Stories with Clickable Links (Premium Only)
Telegram Premium users can now add interactive link widgets to their Stories. These aren’t just plain URLs — they’re visually styled buttons that drive traffic directly to websites, product pages, posts, or anything else you want to promote.
Think of it like turning your Story into a custom mini ad — but without needing to pay for a campaign. This is perfect for marketers, small business owners, or influencers who want to highlight new content or sales events.
Discover Stories by Hashtags and Location
Telegram now supports searching Stories by hashtags and geolocation, making it easier to surface relevant content from across the platform. This brings Telegram closer to the discovery mechanics of platforms like Instagram — but with Telegram’s privacy and flexibility.
For creators and brands, this means Stories are no longer limited to your existing audience. Add strategic hashtags or geotags, and you increase the chances of reaching new people — especially during events, launches, or campaigns.
4. Secure Group Calls and Screen Sharing in Telegram
Telegram is becoming more than a messaging app — it’s positioning itself as a real alternative to video conferencing tools. With the latest updates, you can now host secure group calls and even share your screen, all without leaving the app.
End-to-End Encrypted Group Calls for up to 200 People
One of the most important changes is that Telegram now supports fully encrypted audio and video calls for groups of up to 200 participants — without requiring a separate group chat. This level of encryption is comparable to what you’d expect from secure messaging platforms, and it’s ideal for teams, communities, or online events.
To verify the security of the connection, Telegram uses a unique system: participants compare four emoji on screen to confirm the encryption handshake. It’s simple, visual, and effective.
Built-in Screen Sharing
You can now share your screen during group calls — directly from the Telegram interface. Whether you’re presenting slides, walking through a product demo, or explaining a process live, this feature makes Telegram a strong alternative to tools like Zoom, especially for small teams and casual webinars.
Screen sharing is available across most platforms and works smoothly even on mobile devices.
Redesigned Call Interface
Telegram has also introduced a completely new call interface to improve usability and bring the experience closer to dedicated video conferencing apps like Google Meet or Microsoft Teams. You can now:
- Invite participants via direct link or QR code.
- Access calls directly from the redesigned “Calls” hub in the app.
- Switch between participants more intuitively and highlight the screen sharing feed in real time.
This update transforms Telegram into a full-featured communication hub — not just for chats, but for professional collaboration and live interaction.
Conclusion
Telegram’s spring and summer 2025 updates have transformed it from a messaging app into a comprehensive platform for secure AI-powered chats, monetization, professional broadcasting, and team collaboration. Whether you’re a creator, business owner, or everyday user, these new capabilities offer powerful ways to enhance your Telegram experience—from automated content and revenue generation to confidential communication and premium tools.
Try out features like link widgets, secure calls, and Grok today — and consider using a tool like Onlypult to automate publication and manage teamwork seamlessly across platforms.
