Microsoft's AI chatbot, Copilot, is set to cease its operations on WhatsApp after January 15, the company has confirmed. This move comes as WhatsApp implements revised platform policies that prohibit general-purpose AI chatbots from utilizing its popular messaging service. Users wishing to continue interacting with Copilot will need to transition to Microsoft's dedicated mobile applications or access the AI via its web interface.
Microsoft explained that the removal of Copilot from the popular messaging app is to comply with WhatsApp’s updated platform policies, which were announced last month. The Meta-owned messaging giant previously stated its intention to no longer support general-purpose AI chatbots through its WhatsApp Business API. Instead, WhatsApp aims to reserve these resources for other types of business interactions, effectively ending its role as a direct distribution channel for third-party AI chatbots.
This policy shift impacts major players like Microsoft, as well as other AI providers such as OpenAI and Perplexity, all of whom previously offered AI services within the app. OpenAI had already declared its plan to discontinue its WhatsApp integration in January.
A significant implication for current Copilot users on WhatsApp is the non-preservation of their chat history. Since access to the chatbot on WhatsApp was unauthenticated, conversations will not automatically transfer to Microsoft's platforms. Microsoft advises users who wish to retain their past interactions to export their chat history using WhatsApp's built-in tools before the January 15 deadline.
