OpenAI announced that ChatGPT is leaving WhatsApp after January 15, 2026. Over 50 million users who’ve been chatting with AI through their favorite messaging app will need to find a new home.
Why the Split#
WhatsApp changed its policies and terms, and ChatGPT didn’t make the cut. OpenAI didn’t elaborate on the specifics, but the result is clear: the integration that made ChatGPT accessible to millions via a simple phone number is ending.
It’s worth noting that Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, has its own AI ambitions. Whether that’s related to the policy change is speculation, but the timing is interesting.
What Happens Next#
Users have until mid January to transition. OpenAI is pushing people toward their native apps: iOS, Android, web, and the newly launched ChatGPT Atlas browser on macOS.
The good news? You can preserve your chat history by linking your WhatsApp conversations to a ChatGPT account. The process is straightforward: download the app, create an account, and link it through the WhatsApp contact profile. Your phone number gets associated with your ChatGPT account, and past conversations transfer over.
The catch? You need to do this before the cutoff date. WhatsApp doesn’t support chat exports for AI conversations, so if you don’t link your account, those conversations disappear.
Why This Matters#
WhatsApp made ChatGPT frictionless for users who didn’t want another app. You could access AI through a platform you already used every day, no account creation needed. That convenience attracted tens of millions of users.
Now those users face a choice: migrate to OpenAI’s platforms or stop using ChatGPT entirely. Some will make the jump. Others won’t bother. That’s the risk of building on someone else’s platform.
The Platform Dependency Problem#
This is a reminder that integrations can disappear overnight when policies change. OpenAI built a significant user base on WhatsApp, and now they’re being forced to relocate all of them.
It’s also why OpenAI is investing heavily in owning the full experience through dedicated apps and even their own browser, ChatGPT Atlas. You can’t get kicked off your own platform.
For the 50 million WhatsApp users, the message is simple: update now or lose your conversations. OpenAI is sending reminders, but history shows most people ignore transition warnings until it’s too late.
Get the details: Read the full transition guide and link your account before January 15, 2026.