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WhatsApp allows AI bots to operate for its users but Meta is going to make some changes to the rules which could end use of regular bots.
WhatsApp will lose ChatGPT and other AI assistant bots in 2026
WhatsApp is worried about the influx of many AI assistants on the platform that can easily reach billions of users. So, Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp is bending the rules to thwart such operations on the platform and stop its rivals from growing at its behest.
Meta has noticed that most of the Businesses using its app API have devised ways to integrate their AI assistant that serves the general users.
The company has now changed the rules by stopping these companies from building their AI assistant bots and making them available on WhatsApp. This is a big jolt for ChatGPT and Perplexity among others who have offered their WhatsApp bots to make the features widely available.
End Of AI Bots On WhatsApp But…
WhatsApp changes will be coming to effect from January 15, 2026 that gives the businesses enough time to tweak their current API models and lock out the AI assistant pilfering through to the users. Meta has clearly stated in its new rules that any bot operating primarily as an AI assistant will not be allowed to run through the messaging app.
It is quite intriguing to hear Meta say that regular AI assistants (apart from its own) cannot be working through WhatsApp bots. At the same time, Meta claims that customer-facing service bots will be allowed.
This clearly tells you the impact of these new API rules are targeted at ChatGPT and other AI assistant bots that seem to have thrived with the presence on WhatsApp which has billions of daily active users in many countries.
Meta in its defence suggests running full-fledged AI assistants as WhatsApp bot puts further pressure on the platform’s own data centre powering these features. Meta is also likely concerned about having these AI bots eating into its own user base and that’s where the rule change in 2026 will slowly show its effect.
We could see regulators intervene and force Meta to roll back these rules before that but for now, this is setting a worrying precedent that others might follow.
S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and helping fr…Read More
S Aadeetya, Special Correspondent at News18 Tech, accidentally got into journalism 10 years ago, and since then, has been part of established media houses covering the latest trends in technology and helping fr… Read More
October 21, 2025, 09:20 IST
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