Telegram Supergroup for OpenClaw + Hermes

How to set up a shared Telegram supergroup where you, OpenClaw, and Hermes can all collaborate — and what we learned about Telegram's bot limitations along the way.

Running both OpenClaw and Hermes on the same VPS account lets you create one Telegram supergroup where you + OpenClaw + Hermes can all chat together. This guide is based on a real setup, including the hard lessons we learned about Telegram's bot API limitations.

Prerequisites

• Both OpenClaw and Hermes installed and running on the same VPS user account
• You have the bot usernames ready (e.g., @your_openclaw_bot)
• Basic comfort with terminal commands and Telegram
• Telegram app (mobile + desktop recommended)

Step 1: Create the Supergroup

1. Open Telegram → tap the pencil icon → New Group
2. Name it something clear (e.g., "AI Team Lab")
3. Add both bots using their exact usernames
4. The group will automatically become a Supergroup (you'll see the "Topics" option in group Info)

Step 2: Disable Privacy Mode on BOTH Bots (Critical!)

1. Message @BotFather
2. Send /setprivacy
3. Select your OpenClaw bot → choose Disable
4. Repeat for your Hermes bot → Disable

Step 3: Make Both Bots Administrators

1. In the group → tap the group name → Administrators
2. Add both bots and grant full permissions (especially Send Messages and Read Messages)

Step 4: Get the Group Chat ID

• Add @userinfobot to the group temporarily and send any message, or
• Send a message → forward it to @userinfobot in a private chat
• Or check the web version URL — the number after the hash is your chat ID

Example format: -1001234567890123456

Step 5: Configure the Bots for Group Chat

You can ask either agent to configure the other, or do it directly:

Step 6: How Group Chat Actually Works (The Reality)

Here's what we learned through actual testing:

• When you post in the group, both bots see your message and can reply
• When one bot replies, the other bot does NOT see it
• The two AIs cannot directly "talk to each other" without your help

This is not a bug — it's Telegram's design to prevent bot loops. But it changes how you use the setup.

Step 7: Best Practices for Collaboration

Since bots can't see each other, you become the bridge. Here's what works:

• Act as the conductor: "Claw and Hermes, discuss the best way to optimize our local Ollama setup"
• Quote and reference: "Hermes, what do you think of Claw's last idea?"
• Build on responses: "Claw, build on what Hermes just said about X"

Add this instruction to both agents' SOUL.md or persona file:

"You are in a shared group with the user and another AI agent. When the user mentions the other agent or quotes its response, treat it as direct conversation and respond thoughtfully. Be concise and collaborative."

Step 8: Fix Common Issues

• Bot stops replying? → Remove bot from group → re-add it → make it admin again → restart gateway
• Token issues? → Get fresh token from @BotFather → update config → restart
• Ghost drafts appearing? → Settings → Privacy → Data Settings → Delete Cloud Drafts

Looking Ahead: Better Bot-to-Bot Conversation

We're now exploring workarounds for true autonomous AI-to-AI chat:

• Tiny relay scripts on the VPS that forward one bot's replies to the other's private DM
• Moving the team to Discord (where bots can see each other)
• Building a single multi-agent system that combines both agents

This Telegram setup is still incredibly useful today — it just needs you as the bridge. The journey of discovering these limitations is part of what makes running your own AI agents so rewarding.

Final Thoughts

You now have a powerful AI team room on Telegram — no extra services needed. While we hit Telegram's bot-to-bot wall, the setup still delivers excellent results and taught us a lot. We'll keep experimenting with better ways for OpenClaw and Hermes to speak directly to each other.

Happy building your AI team! 🚀

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