WhatsApp finally opens its doors to rival chatbots in Europe

03/26, AI Models & Tools, Global

12/03/2026

WhatsApp finally opens its doors to rival chatbots in Europe

Meta has announced it will allow rival AI chatbots on WhatsApp in Europe for the next year, following EU antitrust pressure that saw competitors blocked from the platform in January. Starting immediately, companies can connect their AI chat services to WhatsApp via its Business API, although Meta will charge access fees. Meta states this 12-month measure should satisfy regulators and prevent serious harm to competition.

While critics argue the fees might still discourage adoption, AI services now have a clear path back onto WhatsApp. Regulators in Brazil and Italy had already ordered similar reopenings earlier this year. For users, this means you will soon see alternative chatbot options in WhatsApp—such as for banking or customer support—rather than being limited to Meta’s own AI assistant.

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