Baboons WhatsApp Agent: an AI agent on our own WhatsApp number
In 2026 Baboons built its own AI agent for WhatsApp. It answers through the Cloud API on our business number, while we keep using the Business app as usual. We built it for ourselves first, before setting it up for clients.
Baboons has its own WhatsApp business number. We built an AI agent for it. This isn't a client project. It's something we built for ourselves, and now set up for other businesses too.
Why we built this for ourselves
Why for ourselves first? Because we want to set this up for clients too. Then you want to know how it works yourself. The fastest way to learn that is on your own number.
Which route we chose
Which route do you take for an AI agent on WhatsApp? Roughly, there are two. Meta has put its own agent into the WhatsApp Business app, the Meta Business Agent. You switch it on in the app, no coding needed. The other route is your own agent through the WhatsApp Cloud API.
We chose the API. Why? We wanted to decide ourselves what the agent says and when it hands a conversation over. And we wanted to be able to set it up for other businesses too.
We did want to keep using the Business app on our phone. Coexistence makes that possible. The Business app and the API then run on the same number. We message from the phone as usual, and the agent answers through the API. You connect the number through Meta, and you can bring your recent chat history along.
So is Meta's agent bad? No. With few, mostly simple questions, it's often enough.
What the agent does
The agent only answers from what we give it. Our business information, our frequent questions and the next steps we want. Prices, promises or links that aren't in there, it doesn't make up. Does a link or an amount slip into a reply that isn't in our details? Then it holds that back.
Not sure about something? Then it says a colleague will take over, and after that it stays quiet. When we reply ourselves from the phone, it pauses that conversation for a few hours. It only replies within the 24-hour window WhatsApp allows for that. And it talks in the customer's language, Dutch by default. The replies are written by Claude from Anthropic.
What we can do for you
Want an AI agent on your WhatsApp too? You can have one. You connect your number the same way we did, and you keep using the Business app as usual. Is Meta's agent enough for you? Then we'll just tell you. How we go about it is on WhatsApp AI agent.
frequently asked
Why did Baboons build its own WhatsApp agent instead of using Meta's?
Because we wanted to decide ourselves what the agent says and when it hands over. And because we wanted to set it up for other businesses too. That runs through the Cloud API. Meta's agent you switch on yourself in the Business app. For few, simple questions it's often enough, but you control less with it.
Does Baboons still use the WhatsApp Business app next to the agent?
Yes. Coexistence makes that possible. The Business app and the Cloud API then run on the same number. We message from the phone as usual, and the agent answers through the API. When we reply ourselves in a conversation, the agent pauses that conversation for a few hours. That way we stay out of each other's way.
What does Baboons' WhatsApp agent do when it doesn't know the answer?
It hands the conversation to a colleague. It says someone will take over and then stays quiet. It only answers from our own business information and frequent questions. Prices, promises or links that aren't in there, it doesn't make up. A link or amount that slips in anyway, it holds back.
Can Baboons set up a WhatsApp agent like this for my business?
Yes. That's why we built it for ourselves first. You connect your number the same way we did, and you keep using the Business app as usual. Then we fill the agent's knowledge and the handover rules together. Read more on WhatsApp AI agent, or just book a call.