Meta's New AI Business Agents Transform WhatsApp and Messenger Into Direct Sales and Support Channels

At Meta Conversations 2026 in London, the company unveiled Meta Business Agents, autonomous AI systems that go beyond basic chatbots to manage complex customer interactions, inventory checks, and transactions entirely within messaging apps. Per Search Engine Land contributor Lars Maat, who attended the event, these agents maintain context across multi-turn conversations, support multiple languages, and enable customers to browse products, request updates, and complete purchases without ever leaving WhatsApp—while Meta also rolled out native business discovery features in WhatsApp search.