WhatsApp could soon make it easier for users to interact with third-party artificial intelligence services without repeatedly switching between different apps. A feature spotted in testing suggests that compatible AI agents and bots may be connected directly to WhatsApp, with each service getting its own dedicated conversation.

The feature is reportedly being tested in WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.26.35.3. Since it is still under development and has not been announced as a general release, most WhatsApp users are unlikely to see the option on their phones yet.

If eventually introduced widely, the feature could turn WhatsApp into a more convenient interface for accessing multiple AI tools from one place.

A New 'Agents' Section Could Appear in WhatsApp Settings

According to details reported by WhatsApp feature tracker WABetaInfo, a new section called "Agents" may be added to WhatsApp Settings.

This section could allow users to connect and manage compatible third-party AI services. Instead of interacting with every AI service through its own website or application, users may be able to communicate with supported agents through individual WhatsApp chats.

The report indicates that one WhatsApp account could support as many as five AI agents.

Each connected agent would have a separate conversation, helping users keep interactions with different AI services organised.

Users may also be able to customise an agent's display name and profile picture from WhatsApp Settings.

How Could an AI Agent Be Connected to WhatsApp?

The proposed setup appears to involve an API key.

After a user configures an AI agent in WhatsApp, the platform may generate an API key. That key would then need to be entered into the service where the third-party AI agent is hosted.

Once the connection is completed, the AI agent could become accessible through its own WhatsApp conversation.

The exact setup process may vary depending on the AI provider. If users need to reset a connection, the system may also provide an option to generate a fresh API key.

This approach could allow different developers and AI platforms to connect their services with WhatsApp while keeping each bot in a separate chat environment.

Up to Five AI Bots May Be Supported

Another notable detail from the testing is the possibility of connecting multiple AI agents to the same account.

The reported limit is currently up to five agents. That could potentially allow a user to keep different bots for different purposes rather than depending on a single AI assistant.

For example, compatible services could theoretically be designed around productivity, information assistance, customer support or other specialised tasks. The exact range of services, however, would depend on which third-party agents ultimately support the feature.

Since the functionality remains in testing, the five-agent limit could also change before any wider release.

Third-Party AI Agents Won't Get Access to Other Personal Chats

Privacy will be an important consideration if WhatsApp makes the feature broadly available.

According to the reported implementation, a connected third-party AI agent would be restricted to its own dedicated conversation. It would not automatically receive access to a user's other personal WhatsApp conversations, contacts or media.

The agents also reportedly cannot be added to WhatsApp groups or Communities.

Users would be able to manage connected agents through Settings. Removing an agent would disconnect it from the account, although previous messages exchanged with that agent could remain visible in the user's WhatsApp chat history.

AI Agent Conversations May Not Be End-to-End Encrypted

One of the most important distinctions concerns encryption.

Regular personal messages and calls between WhatsApp users continue to use end-to-end encryption. However, according to the feature details reported from the beta version, conversations involving third-party AI agents would not receive the same end-to-end encryption protection.

Messages sent to a third-party AI agent may need to be processed through Meta's services and by the developer operating that AI service. As a result, the third-party developer could potentially access information that users intentionally send to its agent as part of providing the service.

This makes it especially important for users to understand the privacy terms of an AI provider before sharing confidential, financial, personal or otherwise sensitive information with a third-party bot.

Your Normal WhatsApp Chats Remain Separate

The reported change does not mean WhatsApp is removing encryption from ordinary conversations.

Personal messages and calls between WhatsApp users are expected to remain end-to-end encrypted as before. The different privacy treatment applies specifically to interactions with connected third-party AI agents under the feature being tested.

Keeping this distinction clear will be important if WhatsApp rolls out the feature more widely, as users may otherwise assume that a conversation with an external AI bot receives exactly the same privacy protection as a regular WhatsApp chat.

Who Can Use the New AI Agent Feature?

At present, the feature is reportedly available only to a limited number of Android beta testers.

Most users should therefore not expect to find the new Agents section in WhatsApp Settings yet. A beta appearance also does not guarantee that the feature will reach everyone in exactly its current form.

Features under development can be modified, delayed or even withdrawn before a public rollout.

WhatsApp has also not confirmed a date for making third-party AI agent integration generally available to all users.

Why This WhatsApp Feature Could Be Important

AI assistants are increasingly being integrated into services people already use every day. Allowing third-party agents to operate through dedicated WhatsApp chats could reduce the need to jump between multiple AI apps and websites.

Instead, WhatsApp could effectively become a common messaging interface where users communicate with both people and supported AI services.

The ability to connect several agents could make the feature particularly interesting because users would not necessarily be tied to a single AI experience.

However, convenience comes with an important privacy consideration. Third-party AI conversations may operate differently from normal encrypted WhatsApp chats, so users would need to pay attention to what information they share and which provider is processing it.

For now, the feature remains an experiment available to limited beta users. A broader launch, supported AI services and the final number of agents allowed per account will become clearer only if WhatsApp decides to move the feature beyond testing.