WhatsApp has introduced a new feature that utilizes Meta AI to summarize personal chats. Users can activate this feature by tapping a button that reveals all unread messages in a specific chat. Instead of presenting the actual messages, WhatsApp generates a concise bulleted summary of missed content through Meta AI.
Currently, this functionality is being implemented in English for users in the United States, with plans to expand to additional countries and languages later in the year. The feature employs Meta’s Private Processing technology, which is designed to ensure that neither Meta nor any third parties can access users’ messages.
Owned by Meta, WhatsApp emphasizes that AI-generated message summaries are entirely optional and are deactivated by default. Additionally, users have the option to utilize WhatsApp’s “Advanced Privacy” setting to restrict the use of AI features in group chats. Concerns remain regarding the accuracy of these AI summaries, particularly following challenges noted during the rollout of Apple’s similar feature for message and notification summaries.
Over the last year, Meta has increasingly integrated various AI functionalities into WhatsApp. These include the ability to pose questions to Meta AI directly from within conversations and a tool that creates images in real-time. However, some users have voiced their frustration over the persistent Meta AI button located in the bottom-right corner of the app, which cannot be disabled or removed.
Meta has also faced backlash for introducing advertisements within the messaging platform—something initially opposed by the app’s founders. The Private Processing technology is intended to anonymize user interactions with the AI model by establishing a “secure cloud environment” that prevents both Meta and WhatsApp from accessing the summaries. Moreover, group chat participants will not have visibility into the AI-generated message summaries.
