According to Thurrott.com, WhatsApp is removing ChatGPT and Copilot chatbots due to platform policy changes that prevent AI providers from using the WhatsApp Business Solution. OpenAI announced on October 21 that ChatGPT will stop working on WhatsApp after January 15, 2026, affecting over 50 million users who currently interact with ChatGPT through the messaging app. Microsoft’s Copilot team confirmed the same shutdown date but warned users can’t import their chat history to Copilot’s main platform. The policy shift means Meta AI will soon become the only chatbot available within WhatsApp, where it already appears prominently in the Chats tab and search bar. OpenAI is allowing users to transfer their WhatsApp conversations to ChatGPT history, while Microsoft recommends using WhatsApp’s export tools to save Copilot chats.
The Meta AI monopoly play
Here’s the thing – this isn’t just some random policy update. Meta is basically clearing the field for its own AI product. Think about it: when you remove the competition, what choice do users have? Meta AI gets prime real estate in the WhatsApp interface while third-party options get the boot. It’s a classic platform move – open the doors to innovation, then once you’ve seen what works, build your own version and change the rules.
The user data dilemma
And speaking of rules, the different approaches to chat history migration tell an interesting story. OpenAI lets you seamlessly transfer your WhatsApp conversations to your ChatGPT account. Microsoft? Not so much – they’re telling users to manually export chats. That’s a huge difference in user experience. Makes you wonder about the underlying technical and privacy considerations, doesn’t it? Basically, if you’ve built meaningful workflows or relationships with these AI assistants through WhatsApp, your experience preserving that history will vary dramatically depending on which service you used.
Broader implications for AI ecosystems
Now, here’s what’s really fascinating about this timing. While WhatsApp is pushing users toward its walled garden, ChatGPT and Copilot are both expanding into more social, collaborative features. ChatGPT just rolled out group chats to all users, and Microsoft is testing similar functionality in Copilot. So we’re seeing this divergence – one platform consolidating control while the AI services themselves are becoming more open and interconnected. It’s a classic tension between platform ownership and service interoperability. The real question is whether users will accept being funneled into Meta’s ecosystem or seek out these AI tools elsewhere.
business-users”>What this means for business users
For companies that integrated these AI chatbots into their customer service or internal workflows, this is more than an inconvenience. They’ll need to either migrate to Meta’s business solutions or rebuild their AI integrations outside of WhatsApp. The timing gives them about a year to figure it out, but that’s not much when you’re talking about overhauling customer-facing systems. And given WhatsApp’s updated Business Solution terms, it’s clear this isn’t a temporary change – Meta is drawing a hard line about who gets to play in their sandbox.
