WhatsApp expands AI agent testing to iPhone
WhatsApp is taking another step toward integrating third-party artificial intelligence into its messaging app. The latest beta release for iOS — version 26.37.10.70 — lets select iPhone users in limited countries connect external AI agents directly inside chats. The rollout follows earlier testing on Android, with WABetaInfo reporting the update on September 22. WhatsApp also confirmed that the feature supports independent agents built by outside developers.
How the new AI agent feature works
Eligible users can create up to five third-party agents and interact with them through dedicated one-to-one conversations. Setting up an agent begins in the WhatsApp settings menu, where users assign a name and profile photo. WhatsApp then generates an API key that links the agent to its external hosting service, allowing the agent to respond in the chat.
According to WABetaInfo, the API key connects WhatsApp with the external service running the agent. Users can reset the key if needed, and the key should be kept private. WhatsApp may adjust the five-agent limit in the future.
What agents can and cannot access
Third-party agents are deliberately isolated from most WhatsApp data. They can only see information shared directly with them in their designated conversation. Agents cannot access other chats, contacts, or media stored in WhatsApp, and group chats and communities are not included in the current setup.
Privacy limits: No end-to-end encryption for agent chats
The most important caveat is privacy. While regular personal chats remain protected by end-to-end encryption, WhatsApp explicitly says communications with third-party agents are not end-to-end encrypted.
Messages sent to an agent travel through a Meta service that manages the conversation for the provider. That means the agent provider can receive, process, and store messages in unencrypted form. The provider is also responsible for its own data practices, including how it handles requests for access, deletion, correction, or data portability.
What users should consider before trying AI agents
This feature adds new functionality without extending WhatsApp’s standard encryption protections. Anyone thinking about connecting a third-party AI agent should review the provider’s privacy terms carefully before sharing sensitive information.
WhatsApp has not announced a broader release date for the feature. The iOS rollout is still limited, so the final experience could change before it becomes widely available.