ChatGPT & Copilot to Leave WhatsApp After Policy Change
ChatGPT and Microsoft’s Copilot are officially on their way out of WhatsApp. Both companies confirmed that they will stop working on the platform on January 15, 2026, because Meta is rolling out new terms that block third-party AI chatbots from using the WhatsApp Business API. Until that date, everything continues as normal, but once the deadline hits, Meta’s own assistant will be the only full AI chatbot available inside WhatsApp.
OpenAI and Microsoft both said the change is entirely due to Meta’s updated rules. WhatsApp first announced the policy shift in October, explaining that AI companies can’t use the platform if the AI itself is the main product. Meta says the Business API is meant for customer support and transactional messages, not for hosting competing general-purpose chatbots. In a statement to TechCrunch, a Meta spokesperson said the API exists to help businesses communicate with customers, which leaves chatbots like ChatGPT, Copilot, and Perplexity out of bounds.
Microsoft shared a more detailed breakdown in its announcement, noting that Copilot has been popular on WhatsApp since late 2024 and that millions of people used it as a quick, familiar way to talk to their AI assistant. After it shuts down on January 15, Copilot will still be available through the Copilot mobile app on iOS and Android, on the web, and on Windows. Those platforms also offer extra features like Copilot Voice, Copilot Vision, and Mico, so Microsoft is encouraging users to switch early if they want the full experience.
There is one catch for Copilot users. Because the WhatsApp version was unauthenticated, none of the chat history can be moved to the Copilot app or website. Microsoft is telling users to export their messages manually using WhatsApp’s built-in export tool before the deadline. ChatGPT users will have an easier time. OpenAI lets them link their accounts so their WhatsApp conversations can carry over once they switch to other platforms. You can learn about how to do so in detail in their guide.
The policy change also gives Meta a clearer runway to push its own AI inside WhatsApp. Meta AI is already showing up across the company’s apps, and cutting off rival chatbots on WhatsApp makes that push even more straightforward. This move is part of a broader trend in tech where companies want tighter control over how AI reaches users. In this case, Meta is drawing a firm line between AI used to support businesses and AI used directly as a standalone product.
It won’t stop with ChatGPT and Copilot. Other AI chatbot companies, including Perplexity, are expected to announce similar departures soon. Customer-service bots powered by AI can stay on WhatsApp, but full conversational assistants built by outside companies will no longer be allowed. For anyone who used WhatsApp as a quick way to access their favorite AI tools, the solution is simple. Switch to the dedicated apps. ChatGPT and Copilot both offer more functionality in their standalone versions anyway, and nothing about those experiences is going away.
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