Service Termination Announcement

OpenAI publicly announced that its ChatGPT chatbot, which has been accessible through Meta’s WhatsApp platform, will stop working on January 15, 2026. The decision follows a change in WhatsApp’s policy and terms that affects third‑party AI integrations. In a blog post, OpenAI expressed regret about ending the service, noting that it would have preferred to keep the offering alive but is focused on making the transition as easy as possible for all users.

Impact on Users

The termination means that WhatsApp users will no longer be able to interact with ChatGPT directly from the messaging app after the specified date. Because WhatsApp does not support chat export features, there is no automatic way for users to transfer their conversation history to another platform or retain it within the app. This limitation could affect users who rely on the chatbot for daily assistance, research, or casual conversation.

Suggested Workaround

OpenAI offers a workaround for users who wish to preserve their query history. By navigating to the 1‑800‑ChatGPT contact profile within WhatsApp, users can select an option to link their ChatGPT account. This action merges the queries made on WhatsApp with the user’s broader ChatGPT history, ensuring continuity of data across platforms.

Speculated Reasons Behind the Change

While OpenAI attributes the shutdown to WhatsApp’s policy shift, industry observers have speculated that competitive dynamics may also play a role. Meta, the owner of WhatsApp, is increasingly positioning itself as an AI company. Some commentators suggest that allowing a rival AI service to operate on a core Meta platform could be viewed as unfavorable for the company’s own AI ambitions. However, these viewpoints remain speculative and are not confirmed by either party.

Future Availability of ChatGPT

OpenAI emphasizes that the discontinuation on WhatsApp does not affect the broader availability of ChatGPT. The chatbot remains accessible on Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and through the web interface. Users seeking to continue using ChatGPT are encouraged to migrate to these supported platforms, where the service will continue uninterrupted.

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