Copilot Leaving WhatsApp: Microsoft AI Chatbot Ends Support

Copilot's Departure from WhatsApp

Microsoft has announced that its Copilot AI chatbot will cease functioning within WhatsApp after January 15th. Following this date, WhatsApp users will be unable to interact with the AI directly through the messaging platform.

Transition to Microsoft Platforms

To continue utilizing Copilot, users will need to transition to either Microsoft’s dedicated Copilot mobile applications or access the chatbot through its web interface. This shift is being implemented due to changes in WhatsApp’s policies.

WhatsApp's Policy Revisions

The decision to remove Copilot stems from revised platform policies announced by WhatsApp last month. These revisions aim to refocus the WhatsApp Business API’s resources.

Focus on Traditional Business Use

WhatsApp, owned by Meta, will no longer support general-purpose AI chatbots utilizing its Business API for customer service. The platform intends to prioritize the use of these resources for more conventional business applications.

Impact on AI Chatbot Distribution

This policy change doesn’t prohibit businesses from employing AI for customer support. However, it effectively eliminates WhatsApp as a distribution channel for AI chatbots. This will affect companies such as Microsoft, OpenAI, and Perplexity.

OpenAI's Prior Announcement

OpenAI had previously communicated its intention to discontinue its WhatsApp integration in January, foreshadowing this broader trend.

Chat History Considerations

Copilot users on WhatsApp will find that their existing chat history will not be automatically transferred to Microsoft’s platforms. This is because access to the chatbot through WhatsApp was not authenticated.

Preserving Conversations

Microsoft advises users who wish to keep their conversations to export them using WhatsApp’s native export features before the January 15th deadline. This will allow for future reference of past interactions.