Meta-owned messaging platform WhatsApp is changing its Business API policy to prohibit general-purpose AI chatbots from operating on its platform.
The new rules, which take effect January 15, 2026, target companies like OpenAI, Perplexity, Luzia, and Poke that have built assistants on WhatsApp. While businesses using AI for customer service will still be allowed, Meta says chatbot distribution falls outside the API’s intended design.
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Meta told TechCrunch that the Business API was built for customer support and business messaging—not as a platform for chatbot hosting. The company said the surge in chatbot usage increased system load and required specialized support.
The policy change will make Meta AI the only assistant allowed on WhatsApp. The move is also financially motivated: chatbots weren’t covered under WhatsApp’s current message-based charging system, limiting Meta’s ability to monetize their traffic.
Business messaging has become an increasingly important revenue stream for Meta, with WhatsApp now exceeding 3 billion monthly active users globally.
