5 reasons Meta is removing ChatGPT and Copilot from WhatsApp

Highlights

• Meta updates its WhatsApp Business terms and restricts general-purpose AI assistants
  
• ChatGPT, Copilot, and similar services leave the platform by January 15, 2026
  
• Meta AI becomes the only broad-use assistant allowed on WhatsApp
  
• IT leaders must reassess workflows, dependencies, and long-term platform strategy
  

1. Meta limits WhatsApp to customer-service driven AI

Meta’s revised WhatsApp Business terms focus on tools that support businesses in serving their customers. The company states that the WhatsApp Business API exists to offer customer support and send relevant updates. ChatGPT and Copilot do not fall under this category because they function as standalone AI products delivered through WhatsApp rather than as customer-support helpers tied to a specific business.

2. WhatsApp can no longer be used as a distribution channel for external assistants

The new policy prohibits companies from using WhatsApp to deliver general-purpose AI assistants as a service. This affects ChatGPT, Copilot, Perplexity, and other third-party chatbots that rely on WhatsApp as a user access point. By restricting distribution, Meta blocks AI services that operate independently of the platform’s intended business communication use.

3. Meta positions Meta AI as the sole general-purpose assistant on the app

Once the rule takes effect in January 2026, Meta AI becomes the only assistant available on WhatsApp for broad-use interactions. This shift removes competing products and places Meta AI at the center of everyday use on the platform, creating a single default option for users and businesses.

4. Meta tightens control over key communication channels

WhatsApp holds a dominant position in India, Latin America, and much of Europe, where it functions as a primary communication tool. By removing external assistants that sit on top of WhatsApp-based workflows, Meta reduces the influence of other companies within its ecosystem. This move also limits the risk of external platforms shaping user behavior inside WhatsApp.

5. Meta blocks third parties from turning WhatsApp into an AI delivery platform

As WhatsApp becomes widespread in business operations, some providers use it to deliver internal support, knowledge management, and productivity tools. Meta’s policy change stops external companies from using WhatsApp as a distribution route for their AI products at scale. The update prevents WhatsApp from becoming a channel where third-party services reach global audiences without Meta’s oversight.