What is Secretary Mode?
Telegram Business has had simple tools for a while: a greeting for new contacts, an away message and quick replies. They send the same prepared text to everyone. Secretary Mode works differently: you connect a bot to your account, it sees incoming messages in the chats you allow and replies to what was actually asked. A client writes “how much is a haircut and colour, and do you have anything on Saturday?” and gets the price and a time, not “I'll get back to you”.
You decide where the bot may reply: in all private chats, only new ones, only contacts or only non-contacts, or specific people. Chats you exclude, the bot never sees, and it never replies in groups or channels. Telegram adds one more rule: a bot can only reply in chats where the person wrote to you in the last 24 hours, and it never starts a conversation.
The step people miss most often: after connecting, you have to give the bot the “Reply to messages” permission. Without it the bot is connected but silent. You remove it on the same screen, and it stops at once.
It's most useful for one-person businesses that take requests on Telegram: beauty salons, tutors, holiday rentals, small shops, freelancers with clients in several countries. Memo answers in the client's language and only with the info you gave it. When a question is new or someone wants to book, it messages you.
What Memo does as your secretary
- Answers questions about prices, hours, address and booking from your info, in the client's language
- Says openly in its first message that it's your business's AI assistant
- Doesn't make things up: unknown questions come to you, and you add the answer with one tap
- Goes quiet in a chat for 30 minutes as soon as you reply yourself; /off 2h pauses everything
- /missed shows what you missed, and you can dictate reminders for yourself by voice
- Pro: understands voice messages, collects leads, sends your booking link and a daily summary
- Pro: a built-in agenda with free times as buttons, client reminders and a waiting list
How to set it up
- Open @MemoSecretaryAIBot and tell it about your business: services, prices, hours, address and how to book. Or just give it your website.
- In Telegram: Settings → Chat Automation (older versions: Telegram Business → Chatbots). Add @MemoSecretaryAIBot, choose the chats and turn on “Reply to messages”.
- Test it: ask a friend to message you. Memo replies, and you get a ping when a client needs you personally.
Prices
- Trial50 free replies
- Starter450 ⭐ / 30 days400 replies
- Pro900 ⭐ / 30 days2,000 replies, built-in agenda, voice, leads, daily summary
- Plus2,000 ⭐ / 30 days6,000 replies, up to 5 staff, best AI model
Honest answers
What is Telegram Secretary Mode?
It's the name the press uses for connecting a bot to your Telegram account that reads incoming messages in selected private chats and replies on your behalf. In the app it's called Chat Automation.
Do I need Telegram Premium?
No. Since May 2026 Chat Automation works on every Telegram account, without Premium.
Will the bot read all my chats?
Only the chats you allow: all, only new ones, contacts, non-contacts or specific people. Excluded chats, groups and channels stay invisible to it. Memo keeps the last 10 messages per chat for 30 days, and /forget wipes that memory.
Why is the bot connected but not replying?
Usually the “Reply to messages” permission is off. Open Chat Automation, tap the bot and turn it on. Also, a bot can only reply where the person wrote to you in the last 24 hours.
How is this better than an away message?
An away message sends everyone the same text. A secretary bot answers the actual question, such as a price, a time, an address or a free slot, and passes on what needs your decision.
Will clients know it's a bot?
Yes, and they should: the first message in every chat says it's your business's AI assistant. Clients can always ask for you.
What does Memo cost?
The first 50 replies are free. Then Starter is 450 Stars, Pro 900 Stars and Plus 2,000 Stars per 30 days, paid with Telegram Stars inside the app.