How to Build an AI Assistant for Telegram (Free) 2026
Imagine having an AI assistant that responds to your messages on Telegram - 24/7, for free. Not just a chatbot, but an actual AI that can help with coding, writing, research, and automation.
This guide shows you how to build one in about 15 minutes.
What You Need
- A Telegram account
- A computer (or VPS) to run the bot
- 15 minutes of your time
Step 1: Create a Telegram Bot
1Open Telegram and message @BotFather
Type /newbot to create a new bot. Follow the prompts to name it. BotFather will give you a token - save this.
Step 2: Set Up OpenClaw
2Install OpenClaw
docker pull openclaw/openclaw:latest
Or clone and run locally if you prefer.
Step 3: Configure Telegram
3Create your config
{
model: {
default: "kilocode/minimax/minimax-m2.5:free"
},
channels: {
telegram: {
enabled: true,
token: "YOUR_TELEGRAM_TOKEN"
}
}
}
Want to automate your life?
Check out my OpenClaw Ultimate Setup guide — the complete blueprint for building your personal AI automation system.