WhatsApp bans third-party AI chatbots, set to hurt OpenAI, others
Meta-owned chat app WhatsApp has updated its business API policy to ban third-party general-purpose AI chatbots from operating on its platform. The move effectively makes Meta AI the only assistant allowed on the world’s biggest messaging app, while external AI assistants like OpenAI, Perplexity, Luzia, and Poke will be blocked. The terms will go into effect on January 15, 2026.