Welcome to the forefront of conversational AI as we explore the fascinating world of AI chatbots in our dedicated blog series. Discover the latest advancements, applications, and strategies that propel the evolution of chatbot technology. From enhancing customer interactions to streamlining business processes, these articles delve into the innovative ways artificial intelligence is shaping the landscape of automated conversational agents. Whether you’re a business owner, developer, or simply intrigued by the future of interactive technology, join us on this journey to unravel the transformative power and endless possibilities of AI chatbots.
Starting next year, AI companies won’t be allowed to use WhatsApp as a chat interface. Here are the details.
For the past few months, companies such as OpenAI and Perplexity have launched phone numbers that users can add as WhatsApp contacts and chat with their models directly.
Although the experience is far more limited than on the full ChatGPT or Perplexity platforms, this approach is particularly appealing to users on constrained data plans in countries where WhatsApp traffic is exempt from data charges.
Add to that the fact that WhatsApp has 3 billion active users, and it’s easy to see why AI companies have been eager to tap into that audience. The problem is that Meta, which has a chatbot of its own, has caught on to this and updating its business API rules to stop others from using the platform as an interface.
As spotted by TechCrunch, starting January 15, 2026, LLM providers will be banned from using WhatsApp’s business API “when such technologies are the primary (…) functionality being made available for use”.
It is worth noting that the change doesn’t affect companies and services that use AI as part of their WhatsApp-based customer support workflow, but rather those that use the app itself as a front-end for direct, general-purpose chatbot interactions.
Here’s the relevant section from the new terms:
Providers and developers of artificial intelligence or machine learning technologies, including but not limited to large language models, generative artificial intelligence platforms, general-purpose artificial intelligence assistants, or similar technologies as determined by Meta in its sole discretion (“AI Providers”), are strictly prohibited from accessing or using the WhatsApp Business Solution, whether directly or indirectly, for the purposes of providing, delivering, offering, selling, or otherwise making available such technologies when such technologies are the primary (rather than incidental or ancillary) functionality being made available for use, as determined by Meta in its sole discretion.
In reaction to the change, OpenAI has already confirmed that its WhatsApp contact will no longer work after January 15, 2026. Perplexity which is also currently accessible on Telegram and on X, is yet to confirm the end of support.
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