WhatsApp Cuts Off Third-Party AI Chatbots as New Policy Takes Effect
Brazil is temporarily exempt following a competition inquiry into possible favoritism toward Meta’s assistant.
Overview
- OpenAI confirmed ChatGPT is no longer available on WhatsApp as of January 15, and its dedicated number has been disabled with guidance to link accounts to preserve history since WhatsApp lacks chat export support.
- WhatsApp told developers the requirement to stop responding does not apply to users with +55 numbers, allowing general-purpose chatbots to continue operating in Brazil.
- Meta’s rule targets general-purpose AI assistants on the Business API but still allows customer-service bots that help businesses interact with their customers.
- Regulatory scrutiny is ongoing, with Brazil’s CADE investigating the terms, Italy having previously objected, and the European Union examining the policy under antitrust rules.
- Meta says high-volume chatbot traffic strained systems not built for such use and argues AI companies should reach users through app stores, websites, or partnerships rather than WhatsApp.