Meta reportedly offers rival AI chatbots limited free access to WhatsApp
Meta reportedly offered rival AI chatbots, including OpenAI, limited free access to WhatsApp in Europe but will charge them once message limits are exceeded, as part of negotiations with EU regulators investigating potential anti-competitive practices. The proposal, submitted last week, follows EU pressure to ensure fair access to WhatsApp’s API for smaller competitors like The Interaction Company and Agentik, who criticized the offer as insufficient for addressing competition concerns.
Meta Platforms has proposed allowing rival AI chatbots, including OpenAI, free access to WhatsApp in Europe but will impose charges once they exceed a set message limit, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The offer, submitted last week to EU antitrust regulators, comes after the European Commission signaled it may require Meta to provide rivals access to WhatsApp during its ongoing investigation into potential anti-competitive behavior. The proposal follows Meta’s initial January policy restricting WhatsApp API access to its own Meta AI assistant before allowing rivals to pay for access in March. The company suspended fees for a month while negotiating with regulators. The Commission has stated its priority is maintaining an open and competitive AI assistant market, though it declined to comment on Meta’s specific offer. Smaller competitors, including The Interaction Company behind Poke.com and French startup Agentik, dismissed Meta’s proposal as inadequate. The Interaction Company called the offer ‘far from resolving competition concerns,’ urging the Commission to enforce interim measures if Meta does not propose a more constructive solution. Agentik’s founder, Jeremy Andre, criticized the proposal for discriminating against rivals, noting Meta’s own AI does not rely on WhatsApp’s API. Meta reiterated that it has granted rivals free access to WhatsApp’s business API for one month while discussions with regulators continue. The Commission has opened a feedback period until May 18 for interested parties before deciding whether to accept Meta’s proposal. The case highlights broader EU efforts to prevent Big Tech from stifling competition in emerging digital markets.
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