Microsoft's Copilot, a generative AI-powered tool that can generate text and answer specific questions, is now available as an in-app chatbot on Telegram, the popular instant messaging app.

Currently in beta, Copilot for Telegram enables users to engage in conversations with the AI chatbot, mimicking a one-on-one chat with a friend. It can respond to a wide variety of inquiries, ranging from general knowledge questions like "What movie should I watch?" to real-time queries such as "What baseball game is on right now?" This feature was first noted by Windows Latest.

Users can access the bot by searching for its username, @CopilotOfficialBot. It is free for Telegram users and available on both mobile devices and desktop, although it does require a phone number for registration.

Microsoft has previously integrated Copilot into various products, including Microsoft 365 and Teams, as well as AI-first hardware like Copilot+ PCs. The move to expand Copilot to third-party services like Telegram is significant, suggesting Microsoft's intention for its AI chatbot to operate within other social applications.

Other companies are also integrating AI chatbots into their messaging platforms. Meta recently confirmed it is testing Meta AI across Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp, while Google's Gemini offers similar generative AI capabilities within Google Messages on Android devices. Additionally, Snapchat employs ChatGPT to power its AI chatbot, which can respond to user Snaps.

In response to the competitive landscape, Telegram has also launched new "Business" features and revenue-sharing options to challenge Meta.