OpenAI has officially announced that ChatGPT will no longer be available on WhatsApp from January 15, 2026, marking the end of the AI assistant’s presence on Meta’s messaging platform. The decision comes in response to Meta’s new business API policy, which effectively bans third-party AI chatbots from operating on WhatsApp.
The San Francisco-based AI company confirmed the development through an updated FAQ section on its website. “On Jan 15, 2026, ChatGPT will no longer be available on WhatsApp. ChatGPT remains available on iOS, Android, and the web,” the company stated.
Until now, WhatsApp users could access ChatGPT by messaging the bot on 1-800-242-8478, allowing them to ask questions, generate text or images, and browse the web through the chatbot’s AI capabilities.
OpenAI has urged users to link their WhatsApp accounts to their ChatGPT profiles to preserve chat histories before the integration is discontinued. The company clarified that WhatsApp does not allow chat exports, meaning users who fail to link their accounts could lose past conversations.
“We recommend linking your account soon to maintain your history. Your WhatsApp conversations won’t transfer automatically after January 15, 2026,” OpenAI said, adding that users will still have the option to unlink their phone numbers after linking.
The advisory is part of OpenAI’s transition plan as it prepares to withdraw from Meta’s ecosystem.
Meta’s recent update to the WhatsApp Business API policy prohibits all general-purpose AI chatbots from accessing the platform. The revised guidelines specify that AI providers and developers of large language models or generative AI systems are strictly barred from using WhatsApp’s business interface—either directly or indirectly.
Meta claims the decision is aimed at reducing server load and ensuring better platform control. However, analysts note that the policy effectively makes Meta AI—the company’s in-house assistant—the only chatbot allowed to operate within WhatsApp.
The new rule also impacts other AI platforms such as Perplexity, Luzia, and Poke, which must now shut down their chatbot integrations on WhatsApp.
Meta’s own AI assistant has been steadily expanding across its suite of apps—Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, and the standalone Meta AI app—offering features like contextual replies, search tools, and generative image creation.
However, users have expressed growing concerns about the lack of a single opt-out option to disable AI features across Meta platforms. In addition, the company has recently revealed that it will use AI conversation data to personalise ads and content across its services, including WhatsApp.
The combination of these policy changes signals Meta’s intent to consolidate control over AI interactions on its platforms, leaving little room for external players like OpenAI.
