ChatGPT returns to WhatsApp in Europe after EU forces Meta to open the door to rival AI bots
Quick Answer
OpenAI has re-enabled ChatGPT on WhatsApp for users in the European Economic Area, utilizing GPT-5.5 for text and image generation.
Quick Take
OpenAI has re-enabled ChatGPT on WhatsApp for users in the European Economic Area, utilizing GPT-5.5 for text and image generation. This follows a European Commission mandate forcing Meta to allow rival AI bots back on the platform after a previous ban in January 2026.
Key Points
- ChatGPT is accessible via WhatsApp in 27 EU countries plus Liechtenstein, Iceland, and Norway.
- Users can interact with the bot using text, images, and voice messages without needing an account.
- ChatGPT can sync messages with users' existing accounts for context and history.
- Meta previously banned ChatGPT in January 2026, limiting competition on the platform.
- OpenAI is also expanding ChatGPT to Kakao messenger in South Korea and Viber in other markets.
📖 Reader Mode
~1 min readOpenAI has re-enabled ChatGPT on WhatsApp, but only in the European Economic Area, covering the 27 EU member states plus Liechtenstein, Iceland, and Norway. Users have been able to reach the chatbot since July 13, 2026, through the verified contact 1-800-CHATGPT (+1-800-242-8478), no account required. Text prompts, image uploads, voice messages, and image generation all work across many languages.
When asked, the bot says it runs on GPT-5.5. Given the prompt precision of the image generation, those requests appear to be routed to gpt-image-2. Users can also link their WhatsApp account to their ChatGPT account so the chat can pull in context from OpenAI and sync message history.
Meta banned ChatGPT from WhatsApp on January 15, 2026, after changing its business rules. Microsoft Copilot and Perplexity were also kicked off the platform. Only Meta's own AI assistant stayed. In June 2026, the European Commission ordered interim measures forcing Meta to let competitors back on for free. OpenAI is also launching ChatGPT on the Kakao messenger in South Korea and on Viber in other markets.
— Originally published at the-decoder.com
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