WhatsApp is in the process of implementing a visual transformation aimed at enhancing the user experience for its upcoming artificial intelligence (AI) chat feature. Earlier this year, the company, owned by Meta, announced its plans to integrate AI chatbots into its popular messaging platform. Currently, these AI-powered assistants are being made available to select users in the United States. In addition, WhatsApp is testing a new status update section that enables users to view and filter a comprehensive list of status updates.
With the latest update to WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.23.24.26 (via feature tracker WABetaInfo), some beta testers are noticing a new shortcut for initiating AI chats directly from the main chat list. This has been made possible through a floating action button (FAB) featured in the new beta version, represented by a white button with a multi-colored ring situated above the new chat button.
In September, Meta announced its strategy to incorporate AI assistants across its messaging applications, including WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger. These chatbots leverage Meta’s expansive language model, Llama 2, allowing them to address user inquiries and perform web searches through Bing. Furthermore, the assistants can generate images from textual prompts and support AI avatars equipped with various personalities, as stated by the company.
Although it may take additional time for Meta to introduce AI chats to users in other areas, the introduction of a new button is expected to facilitate easier access for users to discover this feature, minimizing the steps needed to start an AI conversation through the existing new chat button.
Separately, WABetaInfo has also identified a newly filtered vertical list in WhatsApp beta for Android 2.23.25.3. This feature allows users to browse all available statuses, akin to Instagram Stories, presented in a vertical format. The status updates list now also encompasses channels, according to the feature tracker.
To enhance the management of status lists, the latest WhatsApp beta has introduced four new filters—All, Recent, Viewed, and Muted—which are located at the top of the screen. These organization and filtering options are anticipated to be made available to users through stable updates on both iOS and Android platforms in the near future.
