WhatsApp’s AI Clampdown to Send Microsoft Copilot Packing by Jan 2026
Meta’s new API rules remove all external AI chatbots, making Meta AI the only assistant on WhatsApp
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Microsoft has confirmed that its Copilot AI chatbot will be removed from WhatsApp from January 15, 2026, following Meta’s decision to ban general-purpose AI chatbots from accessing the WhatsApp Business API.
The move comes after a quiet but sweeping policy update by Meta last month, which effectively blocks all third-party AI assistants — including those from Microsoft, OpenAI, and Perplexity — from operating on the platform. Meta AI, however, will remain available, making it the only large-scale AI assistant permitted on WhatsApp.
Microsoft said Copilot has been available on WhatsApp since late 2024, calling the integration impactful and widely used. However, with WhatsApp’s revised rules, the company stated that it has “no choice” but to wind down support and redirect users to other platforms.
After the deadline, Copilot will remain accessible through Microsoft’s mobile apps, web interface, and desktop tools. The company added that it is working to ensure a “smooth transition” for users shifting away from WhatsApp.
A key limitation for users is that chat histories will not migrate. Because Copilot’s WhatsApp integration was unauthenticated, Microsoft says it cannot transfer conversations to other Copilot platforms. Users who want to keep a record of past interactions must manually export them using WhatsApp’s export tools before January 15, 2026.
Meta’s updated policy cites server load and resource prioritisation as the rationale for removing third-party AI chatbots. In its revised terms, Meta states that providers of “large language models, generative artificial intelligence platforms, [and] general-purpose artificial intelligence assistants” are prohibited from accessing the WhatsApp Business Solution, either directly or indirectly. The ban applies to all non-Meta AI systems.
However, the update also has competitive implications. By excluding external AI providers, Meta ensures that Meta AI becomes the default — and only — AI assistant on WhatsApp, the world’s most widely used messaging platform. Meta has also recently announced that conversations with Meta AI will be used to personalise ads and content for users, a move that could significantly boost ad revenue. Increased reliance on Meta AI following the removal of competitors may therefore support Meta’s broader monetisation strategy.
OpenAI previously announced that ChatGPT would leave WhatsApp in January 2026 for the same reasons. With both OpenAI and Microsoft now exiting the platform, WhatsApp will lose two of the world’s most widely used AI chatbots.
