ChatGPT Returns to WhatsApp: How to Use the Chatbot Directly in Messenger
ChatGPT is back on WhatsApp after a ruling by the European Commission, allowing users to communicate with the AI chatbot directly in the messaging app. Here’s how to use it safely.
In a significant development for users of the popular messaging app WhatsApp, ChatGPT is once again accessible thanks to a ruling from the European Commission. This decision comes after Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, had previously barred third-party chatbots from the platform. Meta has expressed its intention to contest this ruling.
Approximately six months ago, Meta restricted access to WhatsApp for external chatbots. However, in June 2026, the European Commission implemented interim measures against Meta, leading to the reinstatement of ChatGPT in the messaging service. According to reports from OpenAI, users can now interact with ChatGPT through WhatsApp.
How to Use ChatGPT on WhatsApp
WhatsApp holds the title of the most widely used messaging service in Germany, with around 60 million users engaging with the app daily, which constitutes about 80 percent of internet users in the country. Many individuals had previously utilized workarounds to communicate with ChatGPT, a practice that reportedly involved 50 million users globally. However, Meta had altered the terms of its WhatsApp Business API, effectively excluding other chatbot services, including Microsoft Copilot and Perplexity, since January 15, 2026. Only Meta's in-house AI service remained available.
Following the European Commission's mandate requiring Meta to restore access for third-party providers, ChatGPT is now operational once more. The EU Commission justified this action by emphasizing that Meta should not have unilateral control over which AI services could reach its users.
To start communicating with ChatGPT via WhatsApp, users need to save the number +1-800-242-8478. Through this contact, users can send text messages and images directly to ChatGPT, as well as utilize voice messages and generate images. While a separate usage account is not mandatory, linking the chat with an existing ChatGPT account allows for higher usage limits. The rollout of this feature will occur gradually based on the country code of the respective WhatsApp number.
However, there is a caveat: OpenAI has indicated that all conversations will be stored and linked to the respective WhatsApp number. To ensure data privacy and prevent misuse, these conversations may be reviewed for a limited time. Users are explicitly warned against sharing sensitive information, such as passwords or health data, in the chat.
Meta's Response to the Decision
The interim measures will remain in effect until the conclusion of the antitrust proceedings. Should Meta violate these measures, the company could face fines of up to ten percent of its global annual revenue. This case illustrates the significant impact regulatory frameworks can have on competition and the integration of AI services. For companies already employing AI tools in messaging applications, the burden of managing both technical access and regulatory compliance has increased. Meta has voiced its disagreement with the European Commission's decision and has announced plans to challenge the measures.
