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WhatsApp's new AI feature lets you rephrase and adjust the tone of your messages | TechCrunch
WhatsApp is launching a new AI feature that allows users to rephrase, proofread, or adjust the tone of their messages, the Meta-owned company announced on Wednesday. The new feature, called "Writing Help," uses Meta's Private Processing technology, which allows users to receive AI-generated responses without Meta or WhatsApp reading the original message or the suggested rewrites. This means that messages on the platform remain private even if people use the new tool. With Writing Help, users can get AI-generated suggestions that rewrite their messages in a professional, funny, supportive, or rephrased way. WhatsApp showcased the feature in a product image displaying a user's original message: "Please don't leave dirty socks on the sofa." The AI then offers "funny" rewrites, such as: "Please don't make the sofa a sock graveyard," "Breaking news: Socks found chilling on the couch. Please move them," and "Hey, sock ninja, the laundry basket is that way!" With this launch, WhatsApp is likely hoping that people use its in-app technology when drafting messages, rather than external tools like ChatGPT. Of course, not everyone will be fond of the new feature, as users likely prefer authentic, personal conversations with friends and family over AI-generated messages. Using AI to rewrite an email is one thing; using it to message your grandma is another. WhatsApp says users can access the new feature by tapping the new pencil icon that appears when drafting a message in the app. Writing Help is rolling out in English in select countries starting Wednesday.
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New WhatsApp AI Tool Wants to Improve Your Texting Game
Don't miss out on our latest stories. Add PCMag as a preferred source on Google. If you are unsure whether your message sounds right or wish to polish what you've already written, WhatsApp has a new Writing Help tool that can modify the tone of your text. Writing Help can make you sound more professional, funny, or supportive. It can also rephrase the entire thing and provide better ways to convey your message. If you've used the writing assistant on Instagram, this one might seem familiar. On WhatsApp, you can summon the tool in 1:1 and group chats by tapping a new pencil icon on your keyboard. At launch, the feature supports English and is available in the US and a few other countries. "We hope to bring it to other languages and countries later this year," Meta says. While the announcement post doesn't mention it, an attached image suggests WhatsApp taps into Meta AI for the rewrites. However, Meta says it doesn't view your messages to refine them. The responses are generated using Meta's Private Processing technology, which handles "messages off-device in a confidential and secure environment where no one, not even Meta or WhatsApp, can read or access your personal messages. After Private Processing finishes responding to your request, the messages aren't stored," Meta explains on its support page. By default, Private Processing is disabled on WhatsApp. To use Writing Help, you'll need to enable it by going to Settings > Chat > Private Processing. Earlier this year, WhatsApp added a feature that can generate Message Summaries. It's also optional and requires Private Processing to be turned on. To avoid these AI features for a particular chat, tap the contact or group name and enable Advanced Chat Privacy.
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WhatsApp is the latest to offer an AI-powered writing assistant
WhatsApp just introduced an AI-powered writing assistant, in case you need help with a text or whatever. The AI provides suggestions in various styles, like professional, funny or supportive. Once generated, the user can continue editing the message if required. All you have to do is look for the new pencil icon in a 1:1 conversation or a group chat. The AI will handle the rest. It's rolling out now, but only in English and to users in the US. The company says it hopes "to bring it to other languages and countries later this year." The obvious question here is regarding privacy. WhatsApp messages are end-to-end encrypted, but AI queries are typically sent to a cloud data center somewhere. Luckily, the company has built this feature on top of Meta's pre-existing Private Processing technology. This allows users to use Meta AI without anyone else ever reading the message or any suggested re-writes. This works similarly to Apple's Private Cloud Compute, which also integrates with AI without sending all data to the cloud. Meta says the tech preserves "WhatsApp's core privacy promise, ensuring no one except you and the people you're talking to can access or share your personal messages." With the privacy angle out of the way, that leaves the feature itself. Just about every platform out there has some kind of AI writing assistant at this point, so we aren't sure what makes this one special. Also, is there even a benefit to using this type of thing in the context of a quick back-and-forth text conversation? I see the use for long-form writing projects but not so much here, but maybe that's just me.
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WhatsApp's new feature will use AI to fix your awkward texts
AT&T snaps up Dish's former spectrum licensing in the predictable end of an era AI tools make it easier to write emails or reframe the tone of your draft to make them sound more professional. This kind of AI integration is especially useful in messaging apps. WhatsApp is getting its own spin on this with Writing Help, a feature designed to add polish to your messages. Powered by Meta's Private Processing technology, WhatsApp's AI can adjust the tone of your text -- making it more professional, supportive, or even funny before you hit send. And if you're worried about privacy, Meta says Private Processing ensures your messages are improved without anyone ever reading them. You can go through Meta's white paper to get a full technical rundown of how Private Processing works. Think of Writing Help as Meta's take on iPhone's Writing Tools that works within WhatsApp. For now, Meta is rolling out Writing Help for WhatsApp users in the US and "several other countries" with initial support limited to English. If available for your account, you'll see a pencil icon in the text input window when you start drafting your message, be it a 1:1 conversation or a group chat. The company will expand support to more regions and languages later this year. Most Android phones -- especially mid-range models -- don't offer iPhone-like Writing Tools. By baking the feature directly into WhatsApp, Meta makes it accessible to millions of users -- irrespective of the phone they use. Do note that Private Processing is turned off by default in WhatsApp. And unless you enable it, you won't get access to any of the Meta AI-based features. More Meta AI-powered features could come to WhatsApp Writing Help is the second major AI-powered feature that Meta has added to WhatsApp in recent months. It rolled out Message Summaries in June this year, enabling Meta AI to summarize unread messages in a group chat. Both features are available in limited languages and countries for now, but Meta should expand them soon. Given Meta's push to integrate Meta AI into WhatsApp, you can expect more AI-powered features to make their way into the messaging app in the future.
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WhatsApp's new AI-powered writing helper could help you avert another awkward conversation disaster
These days it seems that every app is incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) in some way, and WhatsApp is rolling out a new AI feature that could help improve your messages and enable you to say exactly what you want to say. In a blog post, Meta says WhatsApp now comes with a Writing Help feature. This uses AI to suggest different ways you could phrase a drafted sentence, with options to simply proofread or rephrase the text, or to spruce it up in a more professional, humorous, or supportive manner. Meta says this AI helper is built upon its Private Processing tech. This is a cloud service that encrypts your requests, meaning neither Meta nor WhatsApp can read them. Meta says it only uses data "that's useful for processing the user's request." Once your query has been answered, it's no longer stored on Meta's servers. Meta doesn't say whether your messages are used to train its AI, though. The feature isn't available everywhere yet, as Meta says it's rolling it out starting in the US and "several other countries" with more coming "later this year". It's also opt-in, so you'll need to enable it first. To do so, open WhatsApp, tap Settings > Chats > Private Processing, then enable the Private Processing feature - if you don't see this option then it's not available in your region yet. To use Writing Help, you'll first need to open a thread and draft a message in its text box. Once you've done that, you should see the sticker icon in the chat bar transform into a pencil. Tap this, then choose a writing option or style from the bottom of the app. If you've chosen to rephrase your text, you'll see a range of different choices - tap one to have it replace your original draft text. Note that you don't have to just stick with whatever WhatsApp has suggested, as you can subsequently edit the new text and make further refinements before sending it. If you do decide to enable Private Processing - and, with it, Writing Help - you might find it's a useful way to get across the meaning of what you want to say when you can't quite think of the right words. That might help prevent a rash of awkward conversations where your meaning is misunderstood or misinterpreted.
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WhatsApp's AI can now turn your messages into awkward dad jokes
WhatsApp has released a new feature that lets you use AI to rephrase your messages or give them a different tone. The feature, called Writing Help, can rephrase your message, or give it a different tone; for example, it can make it sound more professional, funny, or supportive. To try it out, start typing in a message on WhatsApp, tap the icon to the right of the text, and then tap the pencil icon in the menu that opens up below your message. From there, you'll be able to choose what you want the AI to do with your message, and select from a couple of options on offer. Meta says it's using its Private Processing tech, meaning the AI can do all this without Meta or WhatsApp ever reading your message (or the AI's suggestions). The feature is only available in English, and in the United States as well as "several other countries," WhatsApp said in a blog post. The company says it hopes to bring it to other languages and countries "later this year." As for why you'd want this, that's a little tougher to answer. My guess is that the people who will get the most out of it are those who don't have perfect command of the English language. As for the AI actually improving your sense of humor...well, based on the examples WhatsApp has provided, good luck with that.
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WhatsApp adds AI-powered proofreading and tone editing feature
WhatsApp has introduced "Writing Help," a new artificial intelligence feature designed to enable users to rephrase, proofread, and adjust the tone of their messages. The announcement was made by the Meta-owned company on Wednesday, marking WhatsApp's entry into AI-assisted communication. The core function of "Writing Help" revolves around providing users with options to modify their message content. This encompasses rephrasing for clarity, proofreading to correct errors, and adjusting the tone to better suit the intended audience or context. The feature aims to enhance the user's ability to communicate effectively within the WhatsApp platform. A key aspect of this new feature is its focus on user privacy. "Writing Help" leverages Meta's Private Processing technology. This technology ensures that AI-generated suggestions are provided without Meta or WhatsApp having access to the original message or the suggested rewrites. The design is intended to maintain the privacy of user communications while utilizing AI assistance. "Writing Help" offers a range of AI-generated suggestions, enabling users to rewrite their messages in different styles. These styles include professional, funny, supportive, or simply rephrased versions of the original text. The flexibility allows users to tailor their messages to the specific situation. WhatsApp provided an example of "Writing Help" in action, showcasing a user's original message, "Please don't leave dirty socks on the sofa." The AI then suggested "funny" rewrites, including phrases like "Please don't make the sofa a sock graveyard," "Breaking news: Socks found chilling on the couch. Please move them," and "Hey, sock ninja, the laundry basket is that way!" This illustrates how the feature can alter the tone of a message. The introduction of "Writing Help" suggests that WhatsApp is aiming to integrate AI capabilities directly into its platform. The company is likely hoping that users will opt to use its in-app technology for drafting messages, rather than resorting to external AI tools such as ChatGPT. By offering a built-in AI assistant, WhatsApp seeks to keep users within its ecosystem. Users can access "Writing Help" through a new pencil icon that appears when drafting a message within the WhatsApp application. Tapping this icon activates the AI feature, providing users with options for rephrasing and adjusting the tone of their messages. The initial rollout of "Writing Help" is limited. The feature is being launched in English in select countries, starting on Wednesday. This phased approach allows WhatsApp to monitor performance and gather user feedback before a wider release.
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WhatsApp Writing Help Could Be What Finally Kills Apple Intelligence - Phandroid
WhatsApp's Writing Help feature might not seem like much at first glance. But it could be the beginning of the end for Apple Intelligence. WhatsApp introduced a new artificial intelligence feature designed to help users improve how they write messages. The tool, called "Writing Help," allows people to rephrase, proofread, or adjust the tone of their chats. Unlike Apple's clunky approach to AI, this one actually works where people spend most of their time. The timing couldn't be worse for Apple. Apple Intelligence continues to struggle with basic tasks. User adoption remains disappointingly low. Meta just dropped a feature that does exactly what people actually want from AI writing assistance. The tool gives users alternative versions of what they write. It offers options in different tones like professional, supportive, humorous, or polished for grammar and clarity. The best part? It's built right into the app where billions of people already communicate. Meta powers the feature with Private Processing technology. This ensures that neither Meta nor WhatsApp can read users' original messages or the suggested rewrites. Apple Intelligence already offers a similar feature to help users rewrite text. But the implementation feels like an afterthought. It's buried in system menus. It works inconsistently across apps. It lacks the contextual awareness that makes WhatsApp's version actually useful. As more companies roll out practical AI tools that work within the apps people actually use, Apple Intelligence becomes increasingly irrelevant. Writing Help will first roll out in English in select countries, starting this week. Plans include expanding globally.
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WhatsApp Rolls Out New AI Feature Which Rephrases Text in Different Tones
Writing Help runs on Private Processing, which keeps chats secure WhatsApp on Wednesday announced a new feature that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to rewrite text for different tones and clarity. As per the Meta-owned instant messaging platform, users can draft a basic text, and the AI-powered writing assistant will provide suggestions for improvement, including different tones and styles. WhatsApp said that its new Writing Help is built on top of Private Processing technology, and the chats or responses will not be read by anyone other than the user. WhatsApp's New AI-Powered Writing Help Feature WhatsApp shared details about the new feature in a blog post. It is an AI-powered writing assistant that provides tailored writing suggestions based on the original text. The feature can improve text in various styles, including professional, funny, or supportive. It can also be used to add a bit of humour or make the message more empathetic, depending on the user's preference. Apart from this, the feature also serves as a spell-checker, helping you eliminate spelling and grammatical mistakes. It is similar to Apple Intelligence-powered Writing Tools on iPhone and other Apple devices. As per WhatsApp, users can review the suggestions and choose whether to keep the original message or send the improved text. Writing Help works in both individual and group chats. To use the feature, draft a message in the text box, and you'll see a new pencil icon appear. Tap on it, and WhatsApp will open a new Meta AI window with text suggestions to improve the tone, clarity, or grammar of the original message. As per the instant messaging platform, Writing Help is built on top of the Private Processing computing infrastructure. Courtesy of this, Meta AI can generate responses without letting the chatbot, or WhatsApp itself, ever read the original messages or the improved text. You can read more about Private Processing on WhatsApp here. Notably, Writing Help was first reported to be in development earlier this month, and it was spotted in the WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.25.23.7. It has now been officially announced. Writing Help on WhatsApp is initially rolling out to users in the US and select other countries in the English language. It will be expanded to include more languages and regions later this year, as per the company.
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WhatsApp gets 'Writing Help' AI tool with Private Processing
Meta is rolling out a new feature called 'Writing Help' on its instant messaging app, WhatsApp. Powered by Meta AI, the feature helps you type and send messages with suggestions in various styles, such as professional, funny, or supportive. Similar to Microsoft SwiftKey Keyboard's Copilot-based 'Tone' feature, it reads the current texts that users type and uses AI to effectively change the tone of the message. To use Writing Help, you can just start drafting your message in a 1:1 or group chat and tap the new pencil icon. Meta claims to be using a dedicated processing technique called 'Private Processing' to handle users' messages privately without Meta or WhatsApp reading them. Users' messages are fully processed in a Trusted Execution Environment (TEE), which makes it possible for people to direct AI to process their requests in a Confidential Virtual Machine (CVM) without storing any messages. Writing Help is part of the company's ongoing efforts to integrate Meta AI into its messaging platform while keeping AI privacy in mind. Back in June, WhatsApp introduced AI-powered Message Summaries for unread chats, powered by the same Private Processing technology. Writing Help is rolling out in the English language, starting with the United States and several other countries. The company is planning to expand this feature to other languages and countries later this year.
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Can't find the right words for your message? WhatsApp's got a new feature for that
Image credit: WhatsApp/Blog In a move to enhance messaging productivity without compromising user privacy, WhatsApp has announced the rollout of "Writing Help," an AI-powered feature aimed at making message composition smarter, more efficient, and stylistically versatile. Designed to assist users in crafting messages that hit the right tone, whether professional, humorous, or supportive, Writing Help offers real-time suggestions based on user intent. The feature leverages advanced AI to refine messages, making everyday communication smoother and more expressive, a WhatsApp blog conveyed. Read more-WhatsApp rolls out new features for businesses: How to benefit from them But unlike many AI tools that come with trade-offs around data privacy, WhatsApp is positioning Writing Help as a privacy-first innovation. The feature is built on the platform's proprietary "Private Processing" technology, which ensures that neither WhatsApp nor its parent company, Meta, can see original messages or AI-generated edits. "This is about helping people say what they mean, in the way they want to say it," said a WhatsApp spokesperson. "We believe AI can assist without sacrificing the core values of privacy and control." To use Writing Help, users simply begin typing in a one-on-one or group chat, then tap the new pencil icon to activate AI-powered suggestions. The system provides different tonal options, such as professional, funny, or supportive, allowing users to fine-tune their messages accordingly. Users can continue editing until they are satisfied, or opt not to use the feature at all. Importantly, Writing Help is optional and disabled by default. WhatsApp emphasises that users remain fully in control of their messaging experience, and no data used in the process is stored or visible to any external party. Strong emphasis on privacy At the core of both Writing Help and WhatsApp's broader AI strategy is Private Processing, a system designed to keep user data entirely on-device. WhatsApp has published technical documentation and blog posts detailing how Private Processing works and how it ensures end-to-end encryption is preserved throughout AI interactions. To bolster trust, the company has also commissioned independent audits from cybersecurity firms NCC Group and Trail of Bits. These audits confirmed the system's architecture meets high standards for security and does not expose user messages during AI processing. "For those concerned about data privacy, this isn't just marketing -- it's verified," said a WhatsApp engineer familiar with the system architecture. "Private Processing represents a fundamental shift in how AI can be applied to messaging." Message summaries also rolling out Writing Help isn't the only AI-driven tool WhatsApp is introducing. Earlier this year in June, the company unveiled "Message Summaries," another privacy-centric feature designed to help users quickly catch up on unread chats. The feature provides a digest of messages that have piled up, especially in busy group chats or after hours away from the phone, without requiring users to scroll through each one. Like Writing Help, Message Summaries uses Private Processing to ensure that all content remains encrypted and inaccessible to WhatsApp or Meta. The summaries are generated on-device and are not visible to others in the chat. They are designed for the individual user's benefit and are never stored externally. Users can further customise their experience through Advanced Chat Privacy settings, allowing them to specify which chats are eligible for summarization. As with other AI tools in WhatsApp's ecosystem, Message Summaries is optional and disabled by default. Limited rollout, global expansion planned Currently, both Writing Help and Message Summaries are being rolled out in English for users in the United States and a handful of other select markets. WhatsApp plans to expand availability globally and support more languages in the coming months. The launch signals a broader shift in WhatsApp's product strategy, incorporating AI in ways that enhance usability without compromising its core promise of private, secure communication. By introducing optional, privacy-focused tools like Writing Help and Message Summaries, WhatsApp is looking to redefine the role of AI in messaging, not as a surveillance risk, but as a discreet assistant. As competition intensifies among messaging platforms to offer smarter features, WhatsApp's approach could set a new benchmark for balancing intelligence with integrity.
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WhatsApp launches a new AI-powered feature called 'Writing Help' that allows users to rephrase, proofread, and adjust the tone of their messages, utilizing Meta's Private Processing technology to ensure user privacy.
WhatsApp, the Meta-owned messaging platform, has unveiled a new AI-powered feature called "Writing Help" that aims to enhance users' messaging experience. This tool allows users to rephrase, proofread, and adjust the tone of their messages before sending them 1.
Source: engadget
The Writing Help feature can be accessed by tapping a new pencil icon that appears when drafting a message in the app. Users can choose from various options to modify their text, including making it more professional, funny, or supportive. The AI can also completely rephrase the message, offering alternative ways to convey the intended meaning 2.
WhatsApp demonstrated the feature with an example where the original message "Please don't leave dirty socks on the sofa" was rewritten in a humorous tone to "Please don't make the sofa a sock graveyard" and "Breaking news: Socks found chilling on the couch. Please move them" 1.
Meta emphasizes that the Writing Help feature is built on its Private Processing technology, which ensures that messages remain private even when using the AI tool. This technology handles messages off-device in a confidential and secure environment, where neither Meta nor WhatsApp can read or access personal messages 3.
Source: TechCrunch
The Writing Help feature is currently rolling out in English for users in the United States and several other countries. Meta plans to expand support to more regions and languages later in the year 4.
It's important to note that Private Processing, which powers the Writing Help feature, is disabled by default. Users need to manually enable it by going to Settings > Chat > Private Processing to access the AI-powered features 2.
The introduction of Writing Help positions WhatsApp as a competitor to external AI writing tools like ChatGPT, potentially encouraging users to rely on in-app technology for message composition 1.
However, the reception of this feature may be mixed. While some users might find it helpful for crafting more polished or appropriate messages, others may prefer authentic, personal conversations with friends and family over AI-generated content 5.
Source: Android Police
Writing Help is the second major AI-powered feature added to WhatsApp in recent months, following the introduction of Message Summaries in June. This trend suggests that Meta is likely to continue integrating AI capabilities into its messaging platform, potentially transforming how users communicate and interact within the app 4.
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