CE DESK 
Meta restricts third-party AI chatbots from WhatsApp Business API to ensure platform stability, allowing only Meta’s own AI assistant from January 2026.
Meta will introduce a ban on third-party, general-purpose AI chatbots integrated with the WhatsApp Business API starting January 15, 2026. As a result of this policy change, companies developing large language models and generative AI assistants–OpenAI, Perplexity, Luzia, and Poke, for example–will be unable to implement WhatsApp business infrastructure to provide chatbot services, where the primary purpose of the chatbot is offering AI assistance.
The new guidelines specifically prevent “AI Providers” from using the WhatsApp Business Solution to offer AI assistants as primary services. Meta reiterates that the WhatsApp Business API is intended for business interactions with consumers, such as customer support, bookings, and verification services, and not for the widespread distribution of AI chatbots. Business model preservation and reduced strain on systems from AI chatbots is the goal of this business-oriented policy.
The ban will not affect companies that employ AI for specific customer service tasks, such as order processing or flight information. As such, Meta’s AI assistant will be the only general-purpose AI bot available on WhatsApp.
Meta’s efforts to restrict AI integrations on its messaging services suggest that the company is pursuing consolidation of its AI systems to provide a reliable WhatsApp service..
