WhatsApp is testing a limited Android feature that adds an Agents section for connecting outside AI services in separate chat threads.
WhatsApp is testing a limited Android rollout that lets select users in select countries connect up to five third-party AI agents from a new Agents section in settings. Chats with those agents are not protected by WhatsApp end-to-end encryption, and the external provider, not WhatsApp, handles those messages under its own policies.
Android beta users get an Agents section in WhatsApp settings
The new setup lives inside WhatsApp settings under a dedicated Agents section. From there, users can connect, configure, manage, and remove external AI services instead of jumping out to a separate app or browser workflow.
Each service runs in its own separate chat thread inside WhatsApp once connected. That means users can keep conversations with different agents apart, rather than mixing them into one assistant panel or one shared thread. For teams already using WhatsApp for daily operations, that means they can keep multiple agent conversations inside the app while preserving a separate thread for each tool.
This also extends WhatsApp's broader push to bring more AI features into the app. Instead of limiting that direction to WhatsApp's own in-app AI efforts, this test opens a path for outside services to plug into the chat flow through a dedicated settings surface.
Five third-party agents per account, then one-out-one-in
WhatsApp currently caps the feature at five third-party AI agents per account. Once a user reaches that limit, adding another agent requires removing one first, creating a clear one-out-one-in rule for the current version of the feature. What is not clear yet is whether that five-agent ceiling is only part of the test phase or a lasting product limit.
The connection flow also uses individual API keys for each external service. Each agent has to be connected and managed separately, and the five-agent cap applies at the account level. For business users, that matters because access and administration sit at the account level: teams evaluating the feature will need to decide which few agents are worth keeping active inside the app.
Separate chat threads make that cap more workable in practice. Users can keep multiple agents available without leaving WhatsApp, while still seeing each service as its own conversation rather than one blended AI inbox.
The privacy split between WhatsApp chats and agent chats
WhatsApp draws a hard line between normal chats and third-party agent chats. Connected agents can access only the information a user explicitly shares with them. They cannot read personal WhatsApp chats, contact lists, or conversations with other agents, which sets a clear boundary around what stays inside the rest of a user's account.
But the protection model changes once a conversation goes to an outside agent. Messages sent to third-party agents are not covered by WhatsApp's end-to-end encryption, and the external service may receive, process, and store those messages under its own rules. WhatsApp also says it does not own, operate, control, verify, or endorse these services, so provider choice and privacy review sit with the user.
For businesses using WhatsApp workflows, that is the main operational takeaway. The feature may make it easier to place AI tools inside daily chat work, but it also means teams need to treat agent conversations differently from ordinary WhatsApp messages when thinking about sensitive data, vendor review, and internal usage rules.
The rollout gap: countries, providers, and platform scope
Several practical questions are still open. WhatsApp has not named the countries included in the rollout, and it has not identified which third-party AI providers are available at launch. That makes it hard for businesses to know whether this is a broad ecosystem move or a much narrower early test.
Support beyond Android is also unconfirmed. There is no clear availability yet for iPhone, WhatsApp Web, or WhatsApp Business, and billing terms remain unexplained. It is also still unclear what data external agents may keep after chats end.
Disclaimer: This article was created with the assistance of AI. Images are for illustrative purposes only.
About the author
Samarth Agrawal is an AI and technology professional who writes about WhatsApp, automation, and emerging AI trends. He focuses on simplifying complex tech updates into practical insights for businesses, creators, and everyday users
