WhatsApp has confirmed it's making a major change to its chat app, which will mean users across the globe will suddenly face seeing adverts on the screen. These are destined for a section called Updates, which sit in a tab at the bottom of the screen.

The feature was previously available only through the ChatGPT web and mobile apps. In a social media post on X, the company said, “ChatGPT image generation is now available in WhatsApp via 1-800-ChatGPT.

The cofounders of WhatsApp resisted ads in the app for years, including after the company was acquired by Meta for $22 billion in 2014. Brian Acton and Jan Koum left the company in 2017 and 2018, respectively, and on Monday Meta introduced ads in the “Status” feature as well as sponsored Channels in the the “Updates” tab of WhatsApp.

For years, WhatsApp resisted the advertising model even as its parent company heavily monetised its other platforms like Facebook and Instagram.

After years of providing free services without any bells attached, WhatsApp is now going to start showing ads on the popular chat app. To be clear, users will only see ads on the Status screen — the app’s take on Instagram’s Stories.