Are you a business owner using ChatGPT or other chatbots for business purposes on WhatsApp? This news is for you. WhatsApp is banning AI chatbots from its business tools on the app. This bold move will come into effect from January 15, 2026. Meta’s main objective is to promote its own Meta AI as the primary chatbot on WhatsApp. So, there is some confusion relating to the topic. How will it impact businesses using other chatbots on WhatsApp? Will customer support, booking services and sending notifications take a hit too? How will it affect chatbot companies like OpenAI and Perplexity? For all that, learn more.
No More ChatGPT or Perplexity on WhatsApp
Meta is updating its WhatsApp Business API policy. This will impact AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Luzia, and Poke from January 15, 2026.
What’s Still Allowed?
Allowed: AIs used for business functions like helpdesk chatbots and support chatbots are fine.
Not allowed: Chatbots like ChatGPT, Perplexity, or others whose main feature is chatting with the AI will be banned. According to Meta, the WhatsApp API is for businesses and not for AI chat assistants.
What Exactly Changed?
The rule states that AI providers are prohibited from using WhatsApp Business tools to offer their chatbot services. For instance, if you’re a chatbot startup and your main service is a chatbot, you’re banned by default.
However, if the business utilises AI for its business-related tasks on WhatsApp, it remains beneficial. For instance, as a travel company, you use AI for bookings or customer service.
Why Is WhatsApp Doing This?
According to Meta, it designed the WhatsApp Business API for businesses for things like:
- Customer support
- Booking services
- Sending notifications or verifications
Why Is WhatsApp Doing This?
Meta’s concern is that there’s an excessive use of AI chatbots on the app, it says:
- There are way too many chatbot-driven messages that are directly or indirectly putting pressure on WhatsApp’s system (affecting infrastructure load).
- And its impact is also extending to Meta’s revenue model, as these don’t fit the usual business use case.
What Happens Next?
- WhatsApp will no longer allow ChatGPT, Perplexity, Luzia, Poke, and other such AI bots.
- These AI chatbot companies (even the ones coming in future) will have to find services elsewhere, like other messaging apps.
- Meta will focus on its own AI assistant, “Meta AI”, and it will likely be the only general-purpose chatbot on WhatsApp.
Sarika Anand
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