Meta has announced a major update to WhatsApp’s privacy policy, confirming that general-purpose chatbots will be removed from the platform. This new policy will take effect from January 15, 2026.
Meta clarified that this restriction will not affect businesses that use artificial intelligence for customer support, including retailers, airlines, and travel agencies.
As per the new guidelines, AI companies like Perplexity, Lusia, OpenAI, and POK will no longer be allowed to use their chatbots or generative AI features as a core service through WhatsApp Business solutions.
Meta explained that the WhatsApp Business API was designed to assist businesses in providing customer support and sending updates, rather than running full-scale AI-driven chat services.
Experts believe that the surge in the use of general-purpose chatbots over the past year has put a strain on WhatsApp’s infrastructure, leading to increased message volumes and a need for a new support framework.
Meta emphasized that the decision is necessary to stay aligned with the original vision and design of the WhatsApp Business API. After the policy is enforced, third-party AI assistants will no longer be allowed on WhatsApp, and only Meta’s own AI chatbot will remain integrated on the platform.
