Telegram’s official blog on March 31, 2026, described a major update to the mobile apps: a built-in AI text editor, «enhanced» polls (more than 10 innovations), Live/Motion Photos support, «bots managed by other bots», a document scanner on iOS, and a warning about unofficial clients.
The iOS ecosystem version is confirmed by the release history in the App Store: build 12.6 is dated March 31, followed by minor updates 12.6.1 and 12.6.2 (as «Bug fixes, minor improvements, and more»).
For Android, there is a parallel official APK distribution channel (Telegram APKs for Android, @TAndroidAPK), which publishes 12.6.x builds (12.6.0–12.6.4 are visible), and it is also emphasized that these APKs are «directly downloadable» from telegram.org.
A separate important context regarding trust and security: Telegram states that the apps are open source and support reproducible builds, so anyone can verify that the apps match the code published.
Polls became «more powerful»: timers, media, custom options, and the Polls tab
The key block of the update is a large-scale expansion of poll capabilities. According to Telegram’s description, it is now possible to attach media files or geolocation to questions and options, add a description, allow participants to suggest new options directly in an active poll, show who voted next to each option, control revoting (including a «no revoting» mode for fixed results), shuffle options for different users, set a duration, and hide results until the poll ends; the creator can also view results without voting.
Telegram separately emphasizes that these settings expand quiz scenarios — for example, allowing options with multiple correct answers or, conversely, with repeated voting (if needed in quiz logic).
For group and channel admins, «timeliness» is important: if a poll with vote display is created in a group chat, Telegram promises notifications for each response indicating the chosen option.
Another notable UX change: all active and past polls can now be quickly found in a separate tab in group and channel profiles.
Deeper than the official announcement, the Telegram community and tech press described «targeted» improvements around answer options: each option gets a separate link (so you can open the poll and highlight the desired item), and users can respond to a specific option and copy it; the poll creator, in turn, can delete options suggested by participants.
AI editor and translator based on Cocoon
Telegram has built an AI editor directly into the input field: it can correct grammatical errors, rewrite text in a chosen style, and translate a message into another language. Telegram links this functionality to its own Cocoon network and emphasizes privacy: according to the company, requests are processed in a «closed environment» without access to user data.
The App Store additionally reveals the «applied» side: the editor can rewrite text in specified styles (examples listed include Formal, Short, Tribal, Corp, Zen, Biblical, Viking), as well as add relevant emojis («Emojify»). It also repeats the positioning of the feature as «private and optional».
Step by step, enabling it looks like this: in Telegram’s official description, the «Ai» button appears above the send button after typing three or more lines of text.
Russian-language reviews clarify the monetization/limits model: the feature is available for free, but with limitations, and Premium users have higher limits.
Live & Motion Photos: «moving» photos and three playback modes
The next «visual» block of the release is native support for «moving» photographs: Live Photos on iOS and Motion Photos on Android. Telegram emphasizes that such photos can be viewed in any Telegram app, and before sending you can choose the playback style in the editor.
There are three styles: «normal» playback once on opening, looping (Loop), and «pendulum» (Bounce — forward and back in a circle).
Details of the Motion Photos mechanics on Android (as «photo + short video around the moment the shutter is pressed», usually without sound) are described in beta breakdowns: it is also noted that the sender can disable Motion Photo in the media editor if a static frame needs to be sent.
Other changes: bots, documents, music, indicators, and security warnings
The update also includes a «platform» shift for the Bot API ecosystem: Telegram announced that bots can now create and manage other bots «on your behalf», and users are promised the creation of a personal bot «in a couple of taps» (in the official text this is presented as simplifying bot launch even without programming skills).
For iOS, a built-in document scanner has been added: the app can scan via the camera, automatically remove the background, crop, and combine multiple pages into a single PDF file; Telegram’s instructions indicate the path in the interface (attachments menu → File → «Scan document»).
A separate line is risk warnings. Telegram reminds that official apps have open source code and reproducible builds, and profiles of users of third-party clients now show a special warning to interlocutors that the correspondence may be less secure.
For profile and story customization, there are also changes. Beta logs and reviews record: expansion of the «profile playlist» (adding tracks from device memory and from «shared audio recordings», plus search in saved music), as well as correct display of audio tracks attached to stories (with the caveat that the innovation concerns recent stories).
Finally, an element of «daily convenience» for admins: mention/reaction indicators have been redesigned, and more noticeable signals about new votes in your polls have appeared (including in the chat list).
What this gives channel owners, moderators, and developers
From a practical standpoint, the poll upgrade looks like an attempt to turn them from «simple voting» into a full-fledged interactive tool: media and descriptions help set context, timers discipline opinion collection, «hidden results until the end» reduce the bandwagon effect, and the Polls tab simplifies navigation through activities in large communities.
For discussions and engagement, «interface details» are also important: separate links to specific options and the ability to respond to a specific poll item bring voting closer to a discussion format, where you can share not only the outcome but also a specific option.
The AI editor logically targets «quick content» scenarios: post drafts, error correction, tone adaptation, translation, and «emojify» from the input field — all of this reduces time spent on routine (while Telegram separately insists that processing is private and the feature is optional).
And for developers and bot directory owners, the ability for bots to manage other bots is especially significant: Telegram directly describes this as a step toward simpler creation of «personalized» bots and launch without programming, which could potentially accelerate the growth of the «bot constructors» and «ready-made AI bots» market.
