- Meta will ban all third-party general-purpose AI chatbots, such as ChatGPT and Perplexity, from WhatsApp in January
- Users will be forced to migrate to other platforms unless they move to Meta AI
- The move aims to reduce pressure on infrastructure, but it also gives more power to Meta’s AI assistant and more data to the company.
Meta closes the door to third-party AI assistants in WhatsApp. Starting January 15, 2026, no general purpose AI chatbots, including ChatGPT, Perplexity and others, will be allowed to operate on the platform. The change is part of an update to WhatsApp’s Business API policy that prohibits developers of “large language models, generative AI platforms, or general-purpose AI assistants” from accessing the system.
Simply put, Meta locks down the world’s largest messaging app to ensure that the only chatbot you’ll find there is Meta AI.
For a company that has spent the last year integrating its Meta AI into every corner of its products, this isn’t too surprising. WhatsApp is a huge platform for Meta to test AI ideas, and hosting a range of third-party chatbots means not everyone turns to Meta AI for help.
But all those other robots will now have to pack up and leave.
WhatsApp has more than three billion users, making it one of the most valuable gateways to consumer AI imaginable. Allowing third-party assistants to thrive inside has essentially allowed competitors like OpenAI access to Meta’s user base, thereby circumventing Meta’s own monetization plans. Now, by closing the door, the company guarantees that Meta AI will be the only chatbot with native reach within WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger.
Meta says this is an infrastructure issue, saying in a statement that these chatbots are putting strain on the platform due to the sheer volume of messages and the support needed to maintain them. It is unclear whether this is true, given that companies using AI for customer service, such as banks, airlines and digital stores, will not be affected.
WhatsApp’s new policy effectively cements a one-app, one-assistant strategy, which could pose problems for those who like to use multiple apps on a single platform. For the millions of users who discovered ChatGPT or Perplexity through WhatsApp, the ban means a significant change in how they access these assistants.
Starting next year, they will have to use standalone apps or websites instead of chatting in their daily messaging. OpenAI, at least, seems to be taking the news with a touch of humor.
Meta has changed its policies so that 1-800-ChatGPT will no longer work on WhatsApp after January 15, 2026. Fortunately, we have an app, website, and browser that you can use to access ChatGPT instead.October 22, 2025
Meta AI’s data pipeline provides ample incentive for the company to keep conversations internal. Every chat with Meta AI is another opportunity to refine recommendations and personalize ads. On the other hand, conversations with external assistants are interactions that Meta cannot analyze or monetize.
And Meta’s framing isn’t necessarily entirely misleading. WhatsApp’s Business API was designed, as its name suggests, for transactions and not for general chats. AI assistants are blurring the line between professional and personal use.
Nonetheless, the policy is written broadly enough that Meta retains discretion in defining what is considered “general purpose AI.” This means that it could theoretically block future applications that it deems competitive or outside of its comfort zone, even if they meet a legitimate use case.
Meta’s takeover isn’t unique either. Google has integrated Gemini into its search and productivity apps, Apple worked with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into Siri, and Amazon uses Alexa as a gateway to its business empire. What’s different about Meta’s approach is the scale of WhatsApp and the lack of an opt-out option for Meta AI. You can’t even turn off the chatbot.
There are fewer choices for users who prefer different assistants, and fewer opportunities for competitors to reach them. Imagine if every email app banned third-party filters except the one created by the hosting company. This is pretty much the model Meta is heading towards with WhatsApp.
But if Meta can win with a strategy of own the cat, own the assistant, own the ecosystem, it will likely be worth it for its results. WhatsApp will be Meta AI’s personal playground, and any other AI will only last as long as the company wants it to.
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