ChatGPT is once again available inside WhatsApp for users in the European Economic Area, and the change comes with an unusual condition for Meta. The company must keep access open to third-party AI chatbots at no cost while regulators continue their review.
For users, the return is practical rather than flashy. ChatGPT can be reached through the 1-800-CHATGPT phone number without installing the ChatGPT app, and the entire conversation stays within WhatsApp.
What users can do in WhatsApp
The WhatsApp experience is designed to feel close to the standalone service. Users can ask questions, upload photos, send voice messages, and even generate images directly from the chat window.
That makes the platform more useful for people who want quick access to AI without switching apps. It also restores a path that had been disrupted after Meta changed its policy on third-party chatbot access.
Why the free access matters
The European Commission had said it would force Meta to allow third-party AI chatbots on WhatsApp free of charge across the EEA. That position followed Meta’s earlier decision to block such chatbots in November.
Meta later allowed third-party AI chatbots back into WhatsApp in March, but the access came with a fee. The European Commission’s move is significant because Meta must now preserve free access until the regulator reaches a final decision.
What happens next
The investigation by the European Commission is still ongoing, according to gsmarena.com. Until that process ends, Meta remains obligated to keep free access in place for third-party AI chatbots on WhatsApp in the EEA.
For now, ChatGPT’s return gives European users a simpler way to use AI inside an app they already rely on every day. The arrangement remains temporary, however, and the final outcome will depend on the European Commission’s decision.
