OpenAI announced that it will discontinue the use of ChatGPT on WhatsApp as of January 15, 2026. This development marks a change that directly affects millions of users. According to the statement, this decision was taken based on the terms of service updated by WhatsApp, namely Meta. Although OpenAI wanted to continue supporting its users on this platform, technical and political conditions did not allow this process to continue.
The change in question also brings with it some technical restrictions for WhatsApp users. Since WhatsApp has strict rules regarding export, it will not be possible to automatically migrate past chats. However, OpenAI offers a solution: Users can match their accounts through the connection option in the WhatsApp profile called 1-800-ChatGPT. Thanks to this process, past conversations on WhatsApp can be manually transferred to the ChatGPT account history. Considering all these details, it would be beneficial for users to start the migration process early.
WhatsApp and ChatGPT integration falls victim to competition between OpenAI and Meta
In the background of this development, not only technical but also commercial and strategic elements attract attention. Meta has been taking more aggressive steps regarding artificial intelligence technologies recently. It is trying to integrate the artificial intelligence models it has developed into its products, especially WhatsApp. Besides all this, the presence of third-party artificial intelligence services in these environments may not be sustainable in the long term for Meta. At this point, OpenAI’s withdrawal from WhatsApp can actually be considered a direct reflection of the competition.
With the withdrawal of ChatGPT from WhatsApp, it is possible that there will be changes in users’ platform preferences. Users who want to access ChatGPT, especially on mobile devices, will now have to turn directly to OpenAI’s official applications. In this context, it is still possible to access ChatGPT on Android, iOS, Windows, macOS and the web. Users will be able to continue their experience using their existing accounts on these platforms. Despite everything, the fact that ChatGPT will no longer be available in a common messaging application such as WhatsApp will affect habits.
In terms of prevalence, WhatsApp stands out as one of the most used instant messaging platforms in the world. Therefore, ending the integration with ChatGPT will eliminate an experience that a wide range of users have become accustomed to. In addition to all these, although manual transfer is available, users must be technically prepared for this process. These transition steps can be confusing, especially for users with low technological proficiency. Therefore, it is of great importance to increase support content and clarify guidance.
OpenAI’s manual migration solution for its users may make the transition easier in the short term. However, it is obvious that this solution is not as practical as an automatic system. Users must complete the matching step completely to avoid losing their history queries. This situation brings about a process that requires attention for users who frequently use ChatGPT via WhatsApp. Small mistakes made during the transition period can lead to significant data loss.
Meta’s silence in this process suggests that the company is preparing to highlight its own artificial intelligence systems. Signs that Bard-like solutions or Meta AI will be integrated, especially within WhatsApp, have been on the agenda for a while. In this context, Meta’s limitation of external AI services seems like an understandable step to maintain control.