WhatsApp ordered to host rival AI assistants for free

The European Commission ordered Meta on Tuesday to reinstate free access to WhatsApp for chatbots developed by competing AI companies. This interim measure, announced as part of an ongoing antitrust investigation, aims to prevent significant and irreversible harm to competition within the general-purpose AI assistant market. The Commission's decision mandates that Meta must allow third-party AI providers to offer their services through WhatsApp without charging Meta any fees. This requirement is set to remain in effect until the Commission concludes its comprehensive investigation into Meta's practices. The investigation is examining whether Meta's integration of AI assistants into WhatsApp, particularly through its own Meta AI, could stifle competition by favoring its own services or creating barriers for rivals. The Commission's preliminary assessment suggests that Meta's current approach might violate EU competition rules, specifically Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, which prohibits the abuse of a dominant market position. The decision highlights the growing scrutiny of major technology companies regarding their AI strategies and potential anti-competitive behavior.