WhatsApp to Ban Third-Party AI Chatbots, Including ChatGPT, Starting January 15
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – WhatsApp is set to remove access to third-party AI chatbots, including those powered by OpenAI‘s ChatGPT, beginning January 15, as part of a policy shift aimed at controlling the use of artificial intelligence on its platform.The move follows an October proclamation revising whatsapp’s business API policy to prohibit AI model providers from distributing AI assistants directly on the messaging service.
This decision impacts a growing number of AI-powered assistants designed to function within WhatsApp, such as those from OpenAI, Perplexity, Luzia (backed by Khosla Ventures), and Poke (backed by General Catalyst). WhatsApp users who have been utilizing these chatbots will lose access unless the providers find alternative solutions. Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, is prioritizing data privacy and control over the user experience, prompting the ban and urging users to export conversations before the deadline if they wish to retain them.
The policy change specifically targets “AI Providers” – defined by Meta as companies offering artificial intelligence or machine learning technologies, including large language models and multi-purpose AI assistants. according to updated terms and conditions, these providers are “strictly prohibited from accessing or using the WhatsApp Business Solution, either directly or indirectly.”
Meta’s rationale centers on maintaining the integrity of WhatsApp as a platform for direct interaction, rather than a distribution channel for broader AI services. The company asserts its right to determine which technologies qualify as “AI Providers” and are subject to the ban. WhatsApp is advising users to utilize its built-in export tools to save conversations before the January 15th cutoff.
