🤖 Telegram's $300M AI Deal Raises Questions

Also: Pinterest spots the digital detox paradox

June 11, 2025

Good morning. Welcome back to Super Marketing. If you're new here, this is where we track the newest AI tools, creator updates, and marketing moves that actually work—without the noise. You can browse past releases here when you need them.

BIG MOVES

Telegram's "$300m deal" with xAI gets complicated

xAI is expanding Grok beyond X, with messaging app Telegram signing on to host the chatbot within Telegram chats. As announced by Telegram CEO Pavel Durov, the companies agreed to a 1-year partnership to bring Grok to Telegram's billion-plus users.

Grok will be pinned to the top of the user chat interface and available in search. Users can consult it via the composer to polish DMs, get chat summaries, use it as a group chat moderator, and even generate stickers and avatar images.

According to Durov, Telegram will receive $300 million in cash and equity from xAI, plus 50% of revenue from xAI subscriptions sold through Telegram. Given the expanded reach potential, it seems like a fair deal.

But here's the catch: Elon Musk says a deal hasn't actually been signed yet.

The bigger question is why xAI is valued at $120 billion when there's no clear path to significant monetization. Will people really pay for Grok when they can access AI tools from OpenAI or Meta instead? The appeal seems to be that Grok models are "less woke," with Elon positioning it as more truthful because it's unencumbered by speech restrictions.

NEW MARKETING TOOLS

1. Manus — Now with dedicated slide creation

Manus has added a dedicated feature for creating presentation slides, expanding beyond its core writing capabilities into visual communication.

Use it if: you're already using Manus for writing and want to streamline your entire content-to-presentation workflow.

2. AdamCAD — Generate 3D designs in seconds

AdamCAD creates customizable 3D designs from simple prompts, perfect for product mockups, prototyping, or visual content that needs more dimension than flat graphics.

Use it if: you need quick 3D visuals for product launches, want to prototype ideas without CAD expertise, or create more engaging social content.

MONETIZE THIS

Manual process becomes 7-figure AI business

James Layfield of Samplify.ai tackled enterprise software sprawl by starting with a manual process, then automating it with AI. Companies waste millions on overlapping tools and half-baked procurement processes. His AI doesn't just tell you what software you own—it tells you what you actually need.

The key insight: they didn't start with AI. James spent months manually reviewing software exports for big companies, figuring out what overlapped, what could go, and what teams actually needed. That process got results, so they automated it.

His breakthrough came with Volkswagen Financial Services. They uncovered over $100 million in potential consolidation opportunities—not theoretical savings, but actual overlapping tools and unused features hiding in plain sight.

FROM BIG BRANDS

Pinterest spots the digital detox paradox

Pinterest shared its latest rising trends based on search activity and engagement. Ironically, a digital platform is seeing more searches for digital detox, with searches for digital detox ideas and vision boards trending up 72% and 273% respectively.

Users are embracing what Pinterest calls a "rural renaissance"—searching for farmhouse cottages, thrifted décor, and rustic retreats. "Nature bathing" is seeing more activity, along with mountain hiking and book retreats.

But it's not all outdoorsy activities. Nostalgic fashion trends are resurging, with Gen Z bringing back early 2000s boho aesthetic. Pinterest trends can indicate significant shopping interest, making it worth noting for potential marketing angles.

🔥 PRESS WORTHY