OpenAI has re-enabled ChatGPT on WhatsApp for users within the European Economic Area, a move following a European Commission order issued in June 2026. The service became available on 13 July 2026 via the verified contact number 1-800-242-8478, allowing access without a registered account. The interface supports text prompts, image uploads, voice messages, and image generation in multiple languages. The bot identifies itself as running on GPT-5.5, while image generation requests appear routed to gpt-image-2. Users may link their WhatsApp account to their ChatGPT profile to sync message history and pull context from OpenAI services. This development reverses a ban Meta imposed on 15 January 2026, which also removed Microsoft Copilot and Perplexity from the platform. The restriction left only Meta’s own AI assistant available. The intervention stemmed from EU competition rules requiring the removal of barriers for rival AI developers. OpenAI is simultaneously expanding access to ChatGPT on Kakao messenger in South Korea and on Viber in other global markets.
The decision highlights the impact of regional regulatory frameworks on major technology platforms. It forces Meta to maintain an open environment for third-party AI tools within the bloc. This shift could alter how users interact with AI assistants on messaging apps.
* Access requires no account registration
* Image generation uses gpt-image-2
* Syncing pulls context from OpenAI
