ChatGPT to Exit WhatsApp by January 2026: OpenAI Confirms End of Integration

OpenAI has officially confirmed that ChatGPT will no longer be available on WhatsApp after January 15, 2026. The discontinuation is not due to a decision from OpenAI but rather as a result of a recent update to Meta’s WhatsApp Business API policy which bans all general-purpose, third-party AI chatbots from operating on the platform.

The integration that gave WhatsApp users direct access to ChatGPT (and other 3rd party assistants, like Perplexity and Luzia) by simply messaging a number had been running for over a year. Meta’s new API restrictions are turning WhatsApp back into a service for “legitimate business communications”, which now only officially recognizes Meta AI as the sole WhatsApp AI assistant.

Why the change? Meta added the following new language to its Business API terms earlier this month:

“AI Providers are prohibited from using the WhatsApp Business API to distribute or promote general-purpose generative AI platforms.”

Meta says the change is due to the heavy, unanticipated backend load that these chatbots caused WhatsApp servers which were not designed for the open-ended, two-way customer service model that they require. However, analysts are calling the new policy an obvious and intentional move on Meta’s part to block external competitors and take sole ownership of the rapidly growing AI chat market within its messaging app.

WhatsApp is the last front in an increasingly intense turf war over artificial intelligence between the likes of OpenAI and Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Meta. By blocking external competitors like ChatGPT, Meta solidifies its own Meta AI assistant as the only AI option for WhatsApp’s nearly 8 billion users. It also has the benefit of allowing Meta to keep all generated data within its own ecosystem, which can be used for both future AI development and for its ad personalization business. The policy change does not impact WhatsApp’s many business customers who use AI to handle specific conversational customer service tasks like travel bookings or eCommerce support.

If you are a member of the millions who have made a habit out of sending messages to the 1-800-ChatGPT number, you should be aware of the following change announcement that OpenAI sent out to users:

Deadline: Users can continue to use ChatGPT on WhatsApp until January 15, 2026.

Export history: WhatsApp doesn’t currently allow users to export their history with AI services like it does with regular chats, so your conversations with the ChatGPT bot won’t be automatically transferred. You can, however, preserve your old WhatsApp conversations by linking your WhatsApp account to your primary ChatGPT account (available on iOS, Android, and the web) before the January deadline. Link your account before January 15th to make sure that your previous WhatsApp conversations will be available in your main ChatGPT account history.

Continue on other platforms: OpenAI is directing users to start and continue any AI conversations on their official ChatGPT app (iOS/Android) or web site. The native apps are typically more feature rich and robust, and they have features that are unavailable on WhatsApp, such as voice mode, deep research tools, and the ability to upload files.