How to Create a Telegram Bot with AI

Create a Telegram bot with BotFather, connect it to an AI assistant, and go live in minutes — token setup, bot commands, and testing. No code required.

💡 Want the big picture first? See what an AI Telegram bot can do — features, use cases, and pricing — on the Telegram Chatbot overview.

Overview

This guide provides comprehensive instructions for configuring Telegram bots using the BotFather channel and integrating them with the Mingleego platform. By following these steps, you will establish a bot capable of automating interactions, responding to user queries, and enhancing engagement in Telegram. The process involves creating a bot via BotFather, obtaining its username and token, and integrating it with the Mingleego platform.

Prerequisites

Before configuring a Telegram bot, ensure the following requirements are met:

  1. Telegram Account: A registered Telegram account is required to interact with BotFather and manage the bot.
  2. Telegram Access: Install the Telegram app on your device or use the web version at Telegram.
  3. Administrative Privileges: You must have the ability to create and manage bots via the BotFather channel.

Creating a Telegram Bot

Creating a bot in Telegram using BotFather is the foundational step for enabling bot functionality. This section guides you through the process of creating a bot and obtaining necessary credentials.

  1. Open the BotFather Channel:

    • Open the Telegram app or log in via the browser at Telegram.
    • Find the BotFather channel by navigating to t.me/BotFather or searching for @BotFather in the Telegram search bar.
    • Click Start or type the /start command to begin interacting with BotFather. Enter /start Command in BotFather Channel

  2. Create a New Bot:

    • In the chat with BotFather, type the /newbot command to initiate the bot creation process. Enter /newbot Command in BotFather Channel
    • Follow the instructions from BotFather:
      • Enter a name for your bot (e.g., "MingleegoBot"). This is the display name users will see in the chat.
      • Enter a username for your bot, which must end with "Bot" (e.g., "@MingleegoBot").
    • Upon successful creation, BotFather will provide a TOKEN for accessing the bot’s API. Copy this token and save it securely, as it is sensitive and should not be shared publicly. Copy Bot Username and Token from BotFather

Note: The bot token is sensitive and provides full access to your bot. Store it in a secure location and never share it publicly.

  1. Save the Bot Username:
    • Copy the bot username (e.g., "@MingleegoBot") provided by BotFather and save it for later use.

Integrating with Mingleego

After creating the bot in Telegram, integrate it with the Mingleego platform to enable advanced functionality and automation.

  1. Create a New Social Bot:

    • Navigate to the Mingleego platform at Social Bots.
    • Click Create New Social Bot, select Telegram, and click Continue. Create New Social Bot Button Select Telegram Option on Mingleego Continue Button on Mingleego

  2. Enter Bot Details: Fill in the required fields to configure your Telegram bot on the Mingleego platform:

    Create Telegram Bot Form on Mingleego
    • Assistant: Select an AI assistant from the Select Assistant dropdown to power your bot’s responses, aligning with its purpose (e.g., user support). If none are listed, click Create Assistant. See the Creating an Assistant Guide for details.
    • Bot Name: Enter a unique name (e.g., "TelegramSupportBot") to identify your bot on the Mingleego platform.
    • Token: Paste the bot token you copied from BotFather.
    • Bot Username: Paste the bot username (e.g., "@MingleegoBot") you received from BotFather.

  3. Finalize Creation:

    • Review all entered details in the form to ensure accuracy, then click Create to activate your Telegram bot on the Mingleego platform.
    • After creation, your bot will appear in the Telegram tab under the Social Bots section, displayed in a table. From there, you can:
      • Push Notifications send broadcast messages to all subscribers of your Telegram bot directly from the platform.
      • View Statistics by bot users to monitor engagement and performance.
      • Edit the bot by updating the same form fields to adjust its functionality.
      • Delete the bot if it is no longer needed, removing it from the platform. Table of Created Telegram Bot on Mingleego

Testing Your Telegram Bot

Once the bot is activated, test its functionality to ensure it works as expected.

  1. Send Test Messages:

    • Open Telegram and find your bot by searching for its username (e.g., "@MingleegoBot").
    • Send a test message or command (e.g., "/start" or a custom command defined by your assistant on Mingleego).
    • Verify that the bot responds correctly based on the configured assistant behavior. Send test message to Telegram Bot

  2. Monitor and Adjust:

    • Use the Mingleego Playground to test bot responses with various user inputs.
    • If adjustments are needed, edit the bot settings via the Social Bots section on Mingleego.

Sending Push Notifications (Broadcasts)

Mingleego can send a push notification — a broadcast message — to every user who has started a chat with your Telegram bot. Use it for announcements, product updates, promos, or any one-to-many message.

To send a broadcast:

  1. In the Mingleego dashboard, open Push notifications from the left sidebar.
  2. Under Select platform, choose Telegram.
  3. Under Select bot, choose the bot you want to broadcast from.
  4. Type your message in the notification message field.
  5. Send it — every subscriber of that bot receives the message directly in their Telegram chat.

Note: Push notifications are currently available for Telegram bots only. Support for additional channels is on the roadmap.

BotFather Commands Cheat Sheet

BotFather is Telegram's official bot for creating and managing your bots. After your bot is created, send these commands inside the @BotFather chat to configure it:

CommandWhat it does
/newbotCreate a new bot and receive its API token
/mybotsList your bots and open a settings menu (edit, delete, view token)
/setnameChange your bot's display name
/setdescriptionSet the "What can this bot do?" text users see before they press Start
/setabouttextSet the short About text shown on the bot's profile
/setuserpicUpload a profile picture for your bot
/setcommandsDefine the command menu (e.g. /start, /help) shown in the chat
/tokenDisplay the bot's API token again
/revokeGenerate a new token (use this if the old one leaks)
/setprivacyChoose whether the bot reads all group messages or only commands
/deletebotPermanently delete a bot

Where do I see bot statistics? BotFather itself does not show usage analytics. Once your bot is connected to Mingleego, open the Social Bots → Telegram dashboard to view per-bot statistics — conversation counts and engagement over time.

Best Practices

To ensure optimal performance of your Telegram bot, follow these recommendations:

  • Test Thoroughly: Use the Mingleego Playground to test bot responses with various user commands and queries.
  • Secure Tokens: Store the bot token and username in a secure location to prevent unauthorized access.
  • Customize Commands: Add custom commands via BotFather (e.g., /setcommands) to enhance bot functionality.
  • Comply with Telegram Policies: Adhere to the Telegram Terms of Service and Bot API Documentation to ensure compliance and avoid bot suspension.
  • Monitor Activity: Regularly check your bot’s performance and logs on the Mingleego platform to address any issues promptly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a Telegram bot free? Creating the bot in BotFather is free. Mingleego gives you $2 in free credit to start — no card required. After that, you pay only for usage (tokens and messages).

Which AI models can the bot use? You can choose from 8 GPT models in the assistant settings, balancing response quality, speed, and cost per bot.

Can the bot understand images and PDFs? Yes. The assistant can read images (vision) and PDF files a user sends, and it can send images and files back in the chat.

Can I see how many people use my bot? Yes. The Social Bots → Telegram dashboard shows per-bot statistics and conversation history for each user.

Does the bot support voice messages? Not yet — the bot works in text chat. Voice transcription isn't available at this time.

What languages does the bot support? The AI understands and replies in 50+ languages automatically, based on the language of each incoming message.

Conclusion

You have successfully configured and integrated a Telegram bot with the Mingleego platform using the Telegram API. By following this guide, your bot is now equipped to automate interactions, respond to user queries, and enhance engagement in Telegram. To ensure long-term performance, regularly monitor your bot’s activity, update its settings as needed, and adhere to Telegram’s policies. For further customization or troubleshooting, refer to the Mingleego Playground or explore additional resources in the Social Bots Guides.