Microsoft Copilot is ending WhatsApp support from 15 January 2026. Microsoft has confirmed that its Copilot AI assistant will stop working on WhatsApp following changes in WhatsApp’s platform policies.
Security note: Why this matters
Using AI tools through consumer messaging platforms like WhatsApp can blur the lines around authentication, data ownership and auditability. Copilot on WhatsApp didn’t require a Microsoft account, so conversations weren’t linked to business identities or protected by normal access controls.
Moving AI use to authenticated apps and web platforms gives organisations clearer oversight, stronger security controls and better governance. It requires a change in habits though.
Q. Why was Copilot available on WhatsApp?
A. When Copilot launched on WhatsApp in late 2024, it let users interact with Microsoft’s AI within a regular chat thread. This enabled users to ask it questions, generate content or get quick help — without needing a separate app. This helped make AI feel familiar and accessible to many people.
Q. Why is being removed now?
A. The change isn’t because Microsoft is abandoning AI — it’s due to updated WhatsApp Business API rules introduced by Meta (the owner of WhatsApp). The new terms prohibit general-purpose AI chatbots from operating through WhatsApp’s API after 15 January 2026. That means tools like Copilot and other broad assistants (such as ChatGPT) won’t be offered inside the app. Meta says the Business API should instead focus on supporting business messaging and customer service workflows.
In simple terms: WhatsApp is tightening the usage of its platform so that only business-oriented automation remains, and general conversation assistants are no longer permitted.
Q. What Will Happen on 15 January 2026
A.
- Copilot will stop responding to messages on WhatsApp after the deadline.
- Chats with Copilot will not migrate automatically to other Copilot services because the WhatsApp integration was unauthenticated. If you want a record of past chats, exporting them via WhatsApp’s built-in tools before the deadline is advised.
This is important for businesses that may have used WhatsApp informally to try generative AI — the messages will remain visible in WhatsApp, but the assistant will cease to reply.
Q. Where will Copilot still work?
Microsoft is directing users to continue using Copilot on other platforms that it controls — where more complete and secure features are available:
- Copilot mobile app on iOS and Android
- Copilot on the web at copilot.microsoft.com
- Copilot built into Windows
These environments offer the same core capabilities and additional tools, such as:
- Copilot Voice (for spoken queries)
- Copilot Vision (for interpreting images)
- Mico, a companion-style assistive feature
What does this mean for businesses?
For UK organisations, this update illustrates how platform policies can directly affect how AI tools are accessed and used in everyday workflows. A few practical takeaways:
- Informal use of Copilot on WhatsApp will end — plan alternative access routes if your team uses it.
- Export any chat history you need before January 15 due to the unauthenticated nature of WhatsApp’s integration.
- Standalone apps and web access offer better security controls (authentication, logging, and integration with business credentials) than a generic messaging platform.
- Messaging platforms like WhatsApp retain significant control over how third-party tools arrive at users. When policies change, access can disappear quickly — emphasising the importance of ownership and governance of core business tools.
A Shift in AI Distribution
Meta’s rule change also affects other AI providers: third-party assistants like ChatGPT and Perplexity that offered access via WhatsApp will also stop working there after the same deadline. The intention is to keep general-purpose AI activity inside Meta’s own ecosystem (such as Meta AI) or to limit AI use to customer support purposes rather than broad conversational use.
Cosurica’s View
The removal of Microsoft Copilot from WhatsApp highlights an important lesson for small businesses: access to AI tools can depend heavily on platform policy, not just technology capability. Tools that work well today may stop suddenly if the platform hosting them decides to change course.
For now, businesses should move to the more secure and supported versions of AI tools and review any workflows that relied on WhatsApp-based assistants. Over the coming months, a transition towards trusted, authenticated AI platforms should reduce operational risk and give better control over data and usage.
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