WhatsApp, Meta’s flagship messaging app, has quietly transformed into one of the most competitive spaces in consumer AI, with major players like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Perplexity going head-to-head with Meta’s own assistant, Meta AI. With over 3 billion users globally, WhatsApp is no longer just for chats with friends and family — it’s now where millions turn to ask questions, generate images, or even fact-check viral content.
For everyday users like Jayant Tyagi, a software engineer at Salesforce, using ChatGPT through WhatsApp is simply more convenient than opening a dedicated app. “I’m on WhatsApp all day anyway, so it’s just quicker,” he said. A growing number of users are taking the same approach — bypassing standalone apps and instead interacting with AI through the messaging platform they already use daily.
Meta’s CEO Mark Zuckerberg acknowledged this growing trend during a recent earnings call, calling WhatsApp “the largest surface that people use Meta AI on.” But that surface is now being shared with its biggest competitors.
OpenAI officially launched ChatGPT on WhatsApp late last year, and Perplexity followed with its own integration in the spring of 2025. The response has been so overwhelming that Perplexity’s bot briefly crashed at launch due to heavy demand. “The volume far exceeded our expectations,” said Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas.
These bots are available via WhatsApp’s Business Platform, which allows companies to pay Meta to send messages and run services through the app. Because no special partnership with Meta is needed, it’s opened the door for rival AI developers to gain access to WhatsApp’s vast user base — even as they directly compete with Meta AI.
This is particularly important in markets like India and Brazil, where WhatsApp serves as more than just a messaging app — it’s effectively the internet gateway for millions. For AI companies, plugging into WhatsApp eliminates the friction of getting users to download new apps or sign up for separate services.
“It’s all about reducing barriers,” said a spokesperson from OpenAI. Perplexity echoed that sentiment, stating, “We don’t see users as data points to monetise. We see them as people with questions.”
For users, the experience feels intuitive. Chatting with AI through WhatsApp is as natural as messaging a friend. People like Sumit Gupta, who works at the productivity startup Notion, say the ability to communicate with ChatGPT or Perplexity via text or voice message makes the interaction feel more personal and fluid.
Each bot has its strengths. Meta AI stands out for its integration into group chats, where users can summon it to generate memes or conduct quick polls. Meanwhile, Perplexity’s edge lies in its accurate, real-time information retrieval — perfect for fact-checking and news sourcing. ChatGPT remains a favourite for creative writing and in-depth tasks.
“I like Meta AI for memes and simple tasks,” said Microsoft engineering manager Naga Santhosh Reddy Vootukuri. “But when it comes to generating art or checking facts, I prefer the other bots.”
Even more striking is how AI is being used to combat misinformation. WhatsApp, long criticised for being a breeding ground for fake news, is now seeing users enlist AI bots as a first line of defence. Vootukuri says he often uses Meta AI to debunk false claims circulating in group chats. Perplexity even introduced a dedicated fact-checking feature, encouraging users to forward questionable messages to their bot for instant verification.
These bots are proving useful in unexpected situations too. Because many airlines limit in-flight WiFi to messaging apps, users are able to chat with AI midair — something that would be impossible with browser-based tools.
As this ecosystem evolves, power users are learning to mix and match their AI tools. Manas Paldhe, a software engineer, explained his routine: “I use Meta AI for quick rephrasing, Perplexity for search-driven tasks, and ChatGPT for anything that requires depth or tone.”
While Meta AI is embedded into WhatsApp by default, the presence of strong alternatives is forcing Meta to fight for user loyalty in its own app. That’s a shift from the walled-garden approach of traditional tech ecosystems — and one that ultimately empowers users to decide which assistant best fits their needs.
In the AI arms race, WhatsApp has become neutral ground — and perhaps the most important arena yet.