Microsoft’s AI Chatbot Copilot Leaves WhatsApp on January 15

Why It Matters

The removal eliminates a major distribution channel for AI assistants, forcing Microsoft and other AI firms to rely on proprietary platforms and potentially slowing AI adoption on consumer messaging apps.

Summary

Microsoft announced that its AI chatbot Copilot will be removed from WhatsApp on January 15, 2026, directing users to its own mobile apps or the web portal. The pull‑out follows WhatsApp’s revised platform policies that bar general‑purpose AI bots from the WhatsApp Business API, a rule announced in October 2025. The change mirrors OpenAI’s similar exit from WhatsApp and means Copilot users must migrate and export any chat history before the deadline, as conversations on WhatsApp were unauthenticated and will not be preserved.