WhatsApp changes its terms; starting January 15 has banned …
WhatsApp, owned by Meta, has updated its Business API policy to prohibit general-purpose chatbots, a move that will impact AI assistants from companies like OpenAI, Perplexity, Khosla Ventures-backed Luzia, and General Catalyst-backed Poke. The new terms, effective January 15, 2026, explicitly ban AI providers from using the WhatsApp Business Solution to distribute AI technologies, such as large language models and generative AI assistants, when these are the primary functionality.
The policy change, confirmed by Meta to TechCrunch, aims to refocus the WhatsApp Business API on its intended purpose: enabling businesses to provide customer support and send relevant updates.
