WhatsApp will soon bring third-party AI agents to iPhones:Can assist users with day-to-day tasks, but won’t be end-to-end encrypted

WhatsApp could soon become more than a place to chat with friends and family. The messaging app is reportedly testing a feature that will let users create and chat with third-party AI agents directly on WhatsApp. These agents could be built to perform specific tasks, such as helping users organise their day, draft messages, or manage different activities. However, there is an important privacy difference: chats with these agents will not have the same end-to-end encryption as regular WhatsApp conversations. WhatsApp is testing third-party AI agents on iPhone
WhatsApp is reportedly opening its platform to third-party agents, allowing developers to create services that users can access through the messaging app. According to WABetaInfo, the feature has been spotted in the WhatsApp beta for iOS 26.37.10.70, available through TestFlight. The feature was already reportedly being developed for Android and has now appeared on iPhone as well. Interestingly, these agents do not necessarily have to be AI-powered. Developers could also use the system to create regular automated bots for specific purposes. How will the AI agents work? Users will reportedly be able to create up to five agents through WhatsApp’s settings. During setup, users can: Once connected, the agent will appear like a regular WhatsApp contact. Users can then send messages to it and interact with it through WhatsApp. What the agent can actually do will depend on the service and features provided by its developer. Agents won’t see your other WhatsApp chats These agents have privacy limits on what they can access. The agents will only be able to see messages, files, or other content that users specifically share with them. They cannot access users’ other WhatsApp conversations, contacts, or media stored on their phones. This means creating an agent does not give it access to a user’s entire WhatsApp account. Also read: 3 Indian-origin cybersecurity researchers used Claude to hack OpenAI: Within 72 hours, they did entire process and spent less than ₹2.5 lakh on AI tokens

Chats with third-party agents won’t be end-to-end encrypted One of the biggest differences is how these conversations are protected. According to WABetaInfo, chats with third-party agents will not have WhatsApp’s usual end-to-end encryption. This is because the agents are operated by external developers, while Meta handles the messages on their behalf. The feature will also reportedly not support disappearing messages. Users will, however, be able to reset their API key if they want to disconnect the agent or replace the existing key. When will the feature reach everyone? For now, the feature is reportedly available only to a limited number of beta testers in select countries. WhatsApp has not yet announced when third-party agents will be available to all users.