The beginning of January 2026 has brought a big change for WhatsApp users. Meta has implemented its new API rules, due to which OpenAI has had to shut down its ChatGPT bot from WhatsApp. These new rules have come into effect from January 15, 2026 and now third-party AI assistant bots are not being allowed to run on WhatsApp.

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Meta says that many companies were running AI assistant bots for common users using WhatsApp Business API. To stop this, the company has changed its rules. These new rules have had a direct impact on ChatGPT, Perplexity and other popular AI bots, which were providing their services to crores of people through WhatsApp.

However, OpenAI has clarified that ChatGPT’s services have not been completely ended due to the closure of WhatsApp bot. Users can still access AI tools through ChatGPT’s official website, mobile app, and browser. Most of these features are available for free.

You can save old chats

It is also a matter of relief for the users who were talking through ChatGPT bot on WhatsApp. OpenAI has said that users can save their old chats. For this, they will have to link their ChatGPT account to the contact profile of ChatGPT in WhatsApp.

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Interestingly, Meta has banned general AI assistant bots, but customer support and business-related chatbots will still be allowed. It is clear from this that the new rules are especially targeting those AI bots which were working for common users on WhatsApp.

Experts believe that this move is a sign of increasing AI competition between Meta and OpenAI. The removal of AI bots from big platforms like WhatsApp can change the direction of the AI ​​industry in the future.