AI assistants are becoming a regular part of how we use messaging apps and WhatsApp already has Meta AI built right into the platform. Now, WhatsApp appears to be taking things a step further by letting some iPhone beta testers connect third-party AI agents directly to their chats using API keys.
The feature was spotted by WABetaInfo in the WhatsApp beta for iOS 26.37.10.70 update and is available through TestFlight for Apple iPhones. Third-party AI agents are not WhatsApp adding a built-in chatbot like ChatGPT or Gemini. It is the ability to plug in an external agent that runs somewhere else and the functionality works via API key integration.
As shown above, the AI agent adding and usage setup works through Settings. Users see a short intro screen explaining how agent chats work, then give the agent a name and profile photo so it is easy to tell apart in the chat list. Once saved, WhatsApp creates a chat and generates an API key.
Tapping the View API key lets users copy it and paste it into the service where their agent is hosted. Once connected, the agent starts responding inside the WhatsApp chat. The key can also be reset from within the chat if it needs to be replaced.
WhatsApp Chats with AI Agents Are Not End-to-End Encrypted
An important thing to note is that unlike regular WhatsApp conversations, chats with AI agents are not end-to-end encrypted. Messages sent to an agent travel through a secure Meta service that handles delivery on behalf of the agent developer and the agent developer can access those messages as part of the service.
In practice, this means that AI agent chats are not a secure form of communication on WhatsApp. Hoowever, there appears to be certain safeguards. The AI agent can only read what users explicitly share in that conversation. It cannot access other chats, contact list, or media stored on the device.
Disappearing messages are also not supported in agent chats. Importantly, this does not change anything about the regular conversations on WhatsApp. The addition of third-party AI agents fits a broader push from Meta to bring AI deeper into its apps.
Earlier this month, the company launched Meta One, a subscription service across WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook that sells expanded Meta AI usage. The upcoming Meta AI expanded photos feature, as well as custom one-tap ChatGPT stickers, are examples of few.
That said, the feature is currently available to a very limited number of beta testers in select countries on iPhones. The report says it could take several months before it becomes widely available and WhatsApp has not announced a public release date. So, stay tuned.
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