Telegram founder shares life lessons from father, highlights what quality AI can never replace

Pavel Durov wrote that while artificial intelligence was increasingly capable of imitating human intelligence and creativity, one quality remained beyond its reach.

Telegram founder Pavel Durov marked his father’s 80th birthday by reflecting publicly on the values that had influenced his life and work. Writing on X (formerly Twitter), Durov outlined three lessons he said he had drawn from his father, a leading scholar of Ancient Roman literature, whose discipline and moral perspective had shaped both him and his brother.

Durov placed particular emphasis on the idea that while artificial intelligence was increasingly capable of imitating human intelligence and creativity, one quality remained beyond its reach: a moral compass. He argued that this quality would endure in importance, even in a future dominated by advanced technology.

The first lesson Durov highlighted was drawn from his father’s lifelong dedication to research and writing. He recalled that his father’s rigorous commitment to his academic work served as a tangible example of discipline and perseverance. Observing this consistency, he said, had convinced him that leadership could not be established through words alone but had to be demonstrated through conduct.

“My father’s tireless work on books and academic research showed that values are best proven by actions, not speeches,” Durov wrote.

— Pavel Durov (@durov) August 14, 2025

The second principle he shared concerned outlook during times of difficulty. Durov explained that his father’s childhood in post-war Leningrad had instilled in him the ability to manage emotions under hardship. Rather than being overwhelmed by circumstances, he learned to focus on positivity and on being a source of strength for those around him.

According to Durov, this habit of framing thoughts in a way that could bring the greatest good had become a guiding philosophy: “He taught me to maintain optimism, even in the toughest times, and to look for ways to help others with it.”

The final lesson, and the one Durov described as most profound, concerned conscience. He said his father’s years spent studying and translating works by figures such as Julius Caesar and Seneca had led him to conclude that moral character proved more enduring than intellectual ability or artistic skill.

“My father often noted that morality outlasts talent,” Durov wrote. “Artificial intelligence may one day rival or even surpass us in intelligence and creativity, but the conscience that guides human beings is unique, and it will never lose its value.”

By recounting these principles, Durov linked his father’s personal history and scholarship to broader questions about technology and leadership. He suggested that even as AI reshaped human activity, it was the moral framework passed down across generations that would remain indispensable.