A leading tech giant is tightening its control over the AI chatbot space within WhatsApp. Since introducing its own AI assistant, the company has been rolling out artificial intelligence features across WhatsApp and its other major social media platforms. However, it has drawn criticism for offering no option to opt out of these AI tools for users who prefer not to engage with them.
Earlier this month, the company also revealed plans to use interactions with its AI assistant to target users with ads across its suite of apps and services. This move has raised concerns about privacy and the expanding use of AI in shaping user experiences online.
In a recent policy update, the company quietly modified its WhatsApp Business API terms to ban general-purpose AI chatbots on its messaging platform. This change, which was published on October 18, will officially come into effect on January 15, 2026.
As a result of this update, third-party AI tools such as ChatGPT, Perplexity, Luzia, and Poke—some of which have been operating chatbots on WhatsApp—will be required to cease their services on the platform by the effective date.
According to the updated policy, any developers or providers of AI and machine learning technologies—especially those offering general-purpose AI assistants—are now barred from using the WhatsApp Business Solution to deliver or promote these tools. The restriction applies whether the technology is accessed directly or indirectly, and the company retains full discretion in interpreting and enforcing this rule.
It’s important to note that this new restriction does not apply to businesses that use AI for support-related purposes. For instance, industries such as retail, banking, travel, and healthcare can still deploy AI to enhance customer service, as long as it’s not the primary function of the integration.
A company representative told TechCrunch that general-purpose AI bots created a significant load on their infrastructure, leading to higher message traffic and support demands they’re currently unequipped to handle. Although system strain is cited as the reason for the ban, it’s hard to ignore the intense competition in the AI landscape. Earlier this year, the tech firm launched a new AI research division focused on superintelligence and has been hiring top talent from other leading AI companies—fueling the race to develop human-level or superior artificial intelligence.
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