Microsoft's AI assistant Copilot is getting the boot from WhatsApp, with the company confirming the chatbot will disappear from the messaging platform after January 15, 2026. The move comes as Meta enforces new platform policies that specifically target general-purpose AI chatbots using WhatsApp's Business API.
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According to Microsoft's official statement, the company is removing Copilot from the popular messaging app to comply with WhatsApp's revised platform policies, which were announced in October 2025. The policy changes effectively ban AI assistants like Copilot that serve broad, general-purpose functions from using WhatsApp's service.
This isn't just a Microsoft problem - OpenAI had already announced its own WhatsApp wind-down for January, while Perplexity faces the same restrictions. The collective impact signals Meta's intention to fundamentally reshape AI access on its platform, prioritizing business-specific AI tools over consumer-facing chatbots.
For the millions of users who've grown accustomed to chatting with Copilot through WhatsApp, this means a jarring transition. After January 15, they won't be able to access the AI assistant through the messaging app unless they switch to Microsoft's dedicated Copilot mobile apps or use the chatbot via the web.
Here's the frustrating part for users: their chat history isn't being preserved when they make the move to Microsoft's official platforms. Because WhatsApp access was unauthenticated, Microsoft can't transfer conversation logs. The company recommends users who need to retain their conversations export them using WhatsApp's built-in tools before the January 15 deadline - a manual process that many users will likely skip.
The news represents a seismic shift in how AI companies reach users, cutting off a direct line to WhatsApp's 2.95 billion monthly active users. Microsoft's Copilot had built a significant user base on the platform, offering everything from coding assistance to creative writing through simple WhatsApp messages.
Meta's messaging platform just drew a hard line against general-purpose AI chatbots, forcing millions of users to find new ways to access their favorite AI tools and reshaping the competitive landscape for AI distribution. The company appears to be reserving WhatsApp's resources for other types of businesses that use AI to serve their own customers rather than tech giants distributing consumer-facing chatbots.
For now, Copilot users on WhatsApp have until January 15 to make the transition. Microsoft's recommendation? Start getting comfortable with the dedicated Copilot app or web interface - because come mid-January, your WhatsApp conversations with the AI assistant will be nothing but memories.
