Meta is tightening its control over WhatsApp, and third-party AI chatbots are the first to face the impact. According to an updated version of the WhatsApp Business Solution Terms, OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Microsoft’s Copilot will officially be removed from WhatsApp on January 15, 2026.

This major policy update introduces a clear restriction: no AI chatbot that isn’t built by Meta can use WhatsApp as a distribution channel. Put simply, if the AI itself is the product, it can no longer operate on WhatsApp.

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Why Meta Is Making This Move

The shift was initially revealed in October, but its consequences are now becoming fully visible. Meta clarified that the WhatsApp Business API exists for customer service and support automation, not as a direct network for rival AI products to reach millions of users through Meta’s platform.

Brands and businesses can continue using WhatsApp to run automated support bots, but independent AI companies offering standalone chatbot apps are banned. And this includes the industry’s biggest AI leaders.

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What This Means for WhatsApp Users

ChatGPT will remain accessible until January 15, 2026, and users will be able to link their accounts to save conversation history before the service shuts down. Microsoft’s Copilot will also be removed on the same day, though without an account-linking option.

Other AI services such as Perplexity are expected to be removed next, leaving Meta AI as the only built-in chatbot available on WhatsApp in 2026.

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Meta’s Strategy: Owning the WhatsApp AI Ecosystem

This bold policy reinforces a simple message: Meta doesn’t just want WhatsApp to evolve into an AI-powered platform — Meta wants it to be its own AI platform.

By removing competitors like ChatGPT, Copilot, and others, the company is positioning Meta AI as the exclusive, default intelligence system inside WhatsApp moving forward.