How to Use Perplexity AI on Telegram

Perplexity AI has quickly become a favorite for users who want quick, reliable, and cited answers. By integrating with Telegram, it allows you to access these features without leaving your favorite messaging app. Whether you want private one to one chats, group fact checking, or sharing answers across channels, the Perplexity bot makes it simple to bring AI-powered search directly into your conversations.

What Perplexity on Telegram Can Do

Using Perplexity AI inside Telegram is more than just asking questions. The bot is designed to give concise answers, link back to reliable sources, and fit seamlessly into your existing communication habits. From fast one to one conversations to group interactions, it can serve as both a personal research assistant and a shared knowledge tool for communities.

Find the official bot @askplexbot and start chatting

The easiest way to use Perplexity AI is to search for @askplexbot directly in Telegram. Once you locate it, tap Start to open a chat. The bot is free to use in its basic mode and requires no setup beyond pressing the start button. This makes it accessible for anyone who wants instant AI-powered answers on demand.

Ask in one to one chats or mention the bot in groups

Perplexity works in both private and group settings. In one to one chats, you simply type your question and wait for the bot to reply with a short answer and source links. In groups, you can mention the bot with @askplexbot followed by your query. This makes it useful for fact checking conversations, clarifying debates, or sharing additional context with the group in real time.

Get concise answers with cited sources you can open and share

One of the main benefits of using Perplexity on Telegram is its source citation feature. Each answer comes with clickable links so you can verify information directly at the source. This transparency makes it stand out from many other AI chatbots. You can also forward these replies to other contacts, channels, or groups, turning Perplexity into a portable research tool that maintains context and credibility.

Start a One to One Chat With Perplexity

If you prefer a private space to explore questions, a one to one chat with Perplexity on Telegram is the best place to start. This setup makes the bot work like a personal research assistant where you can ask questions, refine them with follow ups, and save useful responses for later. It is straightforward and does not require technical setup.

Tap Start, send your question, and follow up in the same thread

Once you open @askplexbot, tap Start to activate the chat. You can immediately type your question and wait for Perplexity to respond. The bot remembers the context of the current thread, so you can send follow up questions without restating the full query. This conversational flow makes it easy to dig deeper into a topic without losing track.

Add names, dates, and links to get precise answers

Perplexity performs best when your questions include clear details. For example, instead of asking “What happened in the election?”, you could ask “What were the key results of the US election in 2024?”. Adding names, dates, or even direct links to articles helps the bot filter sources and return sharper, more relevant answers.

Share results to contacts, groups, or your Saved Messages

Every Perplexity reply on Telegram can be forwarded like a normal message. This makes it easy to share insights with friends, groups, or even save them for personal use in your Saved Messages folder. Forwarding keeps the original formatting and clickable citations, which means you and others can verify sources later with a single tap.

Use Perplexity in Group Chats

Perplexity becomes even more valuable when used in group chats. Instead of leaving the conversation to search elsewhere, members can bring the bot directly into the discussion. This turns Telegram groups into smarter spaces where debates can be fact checked, claims can be verified, and long discussions can be condensed into shareable insights.

Invite the bot, mention it to fact check posts, and reply with context

To enable Perplexity in a group, simply invite @askplexbot and mention it whenever you want to ask a question. For example, typing @askplexbot What is the capital of Canada? triggers an answer right in the group. You can also reply directly to someone’s message with a query, which allows the bot to provide context-specific fact checks or supporting details.

Set simple rules for when the bot should answer to reduce noise

Because group chats can get busy, it helps to set rules on when to use Perplexity. Common approaches include limiting bot use to fact checking, answering direct questions, or clarifying complex topics. This avoids overwhelming the chat with constant AI replies and keeps conversations flowing naturally while still benefiting from the bot’s input.

Summarize long discussions for late joiners and pin key answers

Perplexity can also help manage lengthy group discussions. By asking the bot to provide a summary of recent messages, you create a concise overview that can be pinned for new members or late joiners. This not only saves time but also ensures that important points remain visible at the top of the chat, helping groups stay aligned.

Prompting Tips for Better Results

Getting quality answers from Perplexity AI depends on how you phrase your questions. Clear prompts help the bot focus on what you really want, while vague queries may result in general or incomplete answers. By applying simple prompting techniques, you can make every interaction more efficient and reliable.

State the task, provide context, and ask for a brief list or steps

When you start a prompt, be specific about what you need. Instead of asking “Tell me about climate change”, ask “List three key effects of climate change on coastal cities.” Stating the task and adding context helps the bot understand the scope. If you want action points or a step by step guide, mention that in your prompt to receive a structured answer.

Reference sources to prefer or exclude when accuracy matters

Perplexity stands out because it cites its answers. You can take advantage of this by telling the bot which sources you prefer or which ones to avoid. For example, you might ask, “Summarize this topic using government or academic sources only.” This improves accuracy and ensures that the information is drawn from reliable references you trust.

Iterate with follow up questions to refine the answer

Sometimes the first answer may be too broad. You can refine it by asking follow ups directly in the same thread. For instance, if you get a summary on a historical event, you can follow with “Can you provide the main dates in a timeline?” This iterative approach sharpens the output and lets you move from general explanations to precise details without starting over.

Privacy and Safety on Telegram

While Perplexity AI is powerful, it is important to understand the privacy limitations when using it on Telegram. Unlike Telegram’s Secret Chats, bot conversations do not use end-to-end encryption, and all queries pass through external servers. Knowing these limits helps you protect your data and use the tool responsibly.

Know that bot chats are not Secret Chats and avoid sensitive data

Chats with bots operate differently from private Telegram messages. Since they are not protected by end-to-end encryption, you should avoid sharing sensitive details such as personal IDs, passwords, or financial data. Treat interactions with AI bots as semi-public spaces where caution is always safer.

Control data exposure by limiting what you forward to the bot

Perplexity works well with forwarded messages, but not everything should be shared. If you want to check the accuracy of a post, you can forward it, but avoid forwarding content that contains private conversations or personal identifiers. Controlling what you share ensures the bot processes only the information you are comfortable exposing.

Add a short disclosure when using AI answers in public groups

When you share Perplexity’s responses in larger groups, it is good practice to add a simple disclosure like “AI-generated answer from Perplexity”. This transparency helps other members understand the context and evaluate the information accordingly. It also builds trust within communities and aligns with responsible AI use.

Build Your Own Perplexity Powered Bot

For users who want more control, you can build your own Telegram bot that uses Perplexity’s API. This approach is ideal if you want to customize prompts, add unique commands, or integrate the bot into a workflow for a team or community. While it requires some setup, the process is straightforward once you know the steps.

Create a bot with @BotFather and secure the API token

Start by opening @BotFather in Telegram and creating a new bot. BotFather will generate an API token that allows your program to send and receive messages. Treat this token like a password: keep it private and rotate it if you think it has been compromised. This ensures your bot stays secure and under your control.

Connect messages to the Perplexity API using polling or webhooks

To make your bot intelligent, link it to the Perplexity API. You can do this by polling Telegram for updates or by using a webhook that receives messages instantly. Each incoming message can be sent to Perplexity, and the API will return a concise, cited response. Choosing between polling and webhooks depends on whether you prefer simplicity or real-time performance.

Add commands and keyboards for ask, summarize, and sources

Enhance usability by programming specific commands. For example:

• ask to send a general query
• summarize to condense long text or discussions
• sources to display citations directly

You can also create custom keyboards so users can tap buttons instead of typing commands. These features make the bot easier to use and ensure consistent interactions across groups and private chats.

If you liked this article, you might also like to check out our How to Chat With AI on Telegram article!