prevent chatbots such as ChatGPT from functioning on the messaging platform. WhatsApp will continue allowing business clients to utilize specialized AI tools that may enhance customer support on WhatsApp, but general-purpose chatbots will be prohibited starting on January 15, 2026. AI chatbots have added pressure on WhatsApp systems, with Meta experiencing a rise in message traffic. Although Meta did not reveal the exact traffic generated by ChatGPT usage on WhatsApp, OpenAI has commented on the topic in a blog entry, stating that over 50 million individuals utilize WhatsApp to interact with ChatGPT.
This statistic is somewhat unexpected. OpenAI boasts over 700 million weekly active ChatGPT users. The engagement of 50 million individuals with the chatbot via WhatsApp is a notable number. It’s uncertain whether these users communicate with the AI solely through WhatsApp or if they depend on the platform in specific situations where typical access to ChatGPT applications (mobile, desktop, and web) is not easily available. Additionally, it remains unclear how many ChatGPT users on WhatsApp possess accounts registered with OpenAI and how many subscribe to premium access. Nevertheless, the good news is that WhatsApp users can preserve their chat history with ChatGPT as they move to another app for conversing with the AI.
