WhatsApp Revamps Interface with Prominent AI Features and Personalized Chatbot Creation

WhatsApp for Android Might Soon Get a Meta AI Widget

WhatsApp's Meta AI widget is said to let users upload an image as well WhatsApp for Android might be working on a new artificial intelligence (AI) widget. According to a feature tracker, the instant messaging platform is developing a widget for Meta AI that will allow users to quickly converse with the chatbot directly from the home screen. Meta AI was added to WhatsApp in 2024 in select regions, and it offers a native way for users to interact with Meta's in-house chatbot. The widget is said to be currently under development, so it is not available for beta testers to try out. According to feature tracker WABetaInfo's report, the new feature was spotted in the WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.25.1.27 update. However, the widget is said to be under development, so it is not visible on the user end. It is unclear when beta testers might be able to see and try out the feature. As per a screenshot shared in the report, WhatsApp's new widget allows users to access Meta AI. It appears to be a 4 x 1 widget, similar to the Google Search widget. The widget has a light grey background with a white text field and a camera icon. The text box features the ring-shaped Meta AI logo and the text "Ask Meta AI". As per the feature tracker, users can tap on the text field and type a prompt. After sending the prompt, WhatsApp's full-screen interface opens directly in the Meta AI chat, where the user can read the response. Currently, it is said that the widget does not show the chatbot's replies. Additionally, the camera icon is said to allow users to quickly upload an image to Meta AI. Users can ask the AI chatbot to either request information about the images or to ask it to edit them. Interestingly, WhatsApp currently has one other widget where users can see multiple messages but they cannot write and send messages via the interface. If the feature tracker is to be believed, this will be the second Android widget from the application.

WhatsApp looks set to get an AI makeover soon - here's what could be coming

WhatsApp is seemingly testing a new look that brings AI front and center to the messaging app, as first discovered byWABetaInfo. The new look, as seen on a beta version of the Android app, gives AI its own tab and is clearly aimed at encouraging users to play with Meta's many AI tools. The WABetaInfo team found the AI tab lists features such as "Popular AI characters" you can chat with and bots organized by topic, like a bizarre dinner party where everyone's a robot. There are also AI-generated stickers, images, and a Meta AI-powered search engine. If these sound familiar, that's because these AI tools already exist in WhatsApp - you just may not have noticed them, because they're buried under the Chats tab. This redesign looks to make AI more visible and, presumably, more used. Whether that happens is anyone's guess, but Meta seems to be betting on AI being the next big thing in messaging. The changes also affect the Communities tab, which no longer has its own space and which will instead live within the Chats tab. WABetaInfo also found that Meta is experimenting with custom AI bots that users can design within WhatsApp. By baking this feature into WhatsApp, Meta is making it more convenient than turning to the AI Studio in Instagram, though it's still unclear how many people actually want to build their own chatbots. They may prefer the pre-built ones provided by the platform or to just chat with actual humans. The upcoming changes to WhatsApp fit with Meta's efforts to embed AI in all of its platforms, particularly in encouraging the use of the Meta AI assistant. If it can entice even a small portion of the more than two billion WhatsApp users to start engaging with its AI products, Meta will be thrilled. It does somewhat go against WhatsApp's streamlined and simple style, but that may not matter if people want to use AI for whatever purpose. Still, there's a fine line between enhancing a platform and overloading it, and Meta is balancing right on that line. There's no date for the revamp, though the beta-testing suggests a wait of a few months is likely. That said, if the integration of ChatGPT on WhatsApp proves as popular as OpenAI hopes, you might see the AI-focused WhatsApp come out even sooner than that and be copied across Meta's whole ecosystem.

Forget your friends, Meta is bringing AI character creation to WhatsApp

WhatsApp may also replace the Communities tab in the Android app with a new one dedicated to AI chats. WhatsApp is the leading messaging app globally, connecting billions of users to friends, family, and even businesses. While the popular app already serves its intended purpose, Meta is exploring new ways to modernize it. According to a recent WhatsApp beta build for Android, Meta AI character creation could soon be coming to the mobile app. Per a WABetaInfo report, Meta is preparing to bring AI character creation to WhatsApp. Version 2.25.1.26 beta for Android reveals how the feature could work if the company proceeds with its plans. Similar to the existing Meta AI Studio tool on Instagram's website, WhatsApp will seemingly let users build custom AI chatbots by describing their personality, expertise, unique qualities, etc. To inspire users creating Meta AI characters, WhatsApp may display trait suggestions when building a chatbot. Based on the included screenshot, there also appears to be a refresh button that will generate new recommendations if users are unhappy with the presented ones. It's worth noting that the AI characters themselves aren't new; eligible WhatsApp users can already access first- and third-party chatbots in the app. The upcoming addition will only popularize creating them by making the building tools easily accessible. Otherwise, WABetaInfo highlights that WhatsApp for Android may soon drop the Communities tab in favor of a new one dedicated to AI chats. Those who rely on the Communities feature will still be able to access it through the main Chats tab. It remains unclear when and if Meta will roll out these changes, as they're still in development.

WhatsApp Might Soon Let You Create Personalised AI Characters

Users can describe the character's traits and focus area with a prompt WhatsApp for Android is working on an artificial intelligence (AI) feature that will let users create personalised AI characters within the app, as per a claim by a feature tracker. The new feature is said to be similar to the AI character creation feature available on Instagram and Messenger. The feature tracker claimed that users will be able to describe the personality traits and focus area of the chatbot with a text prompt, and the AI can generate a profile picture and bio. Additionally, the app is also said to be developing a dedicated tab to show the AI characters. As per the feature tracker WABetaInfo, the AI character creation feature was spotted in the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.25.1.26 update. Since the feature is under development, it is currently not available to beta testers. Additionally, the feature tracker also spotted a separate tab for AI characters in the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.25.1.24 update. This is also not a visible feature currently. Based on screenshots shared by the feature tracker, the AI character creation feature appears to be similar to the one present in other Meta-owned apps. The feature likely uses AI Studio to let users create new AI characters either from scratch or based on an existing template. In the screenshot shared, it appears that users could type up to 1,000 characters to describe their personalised chatbot's traits and focus area. At the bottom of the screen, WhatsApp also added description suggestions to help users get inspiration or a starting point for the description. While only step one (of three) was visible in the screenshot, if the process is similar to AI Studio on Instagram or Messenger, the following steps would likely include image and bio generation and selecting the privacy details of the AI chatbot. The other screenshot highlights that WhatsApp might also provide a dedicated space for these AI characters by creating a new tab. It appears this tab will show all the chatbots created by the user as well as all the other public AI characters. Notably, it is not clear whether the AI bots created on WhatsApp will also show up on the other Meta apps.

WhatsApp really hopes you want to talk with AI bots

If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement. Meta's popular messaging app WhatsApp is testing a new design that gives prominent space to a suite of AI chatbots. The design, currently only accessible through the app's Android beta, adds a dedicated tab for AIs on the app's homescreen. WABetaInfo spotted the change, which devotes one of WhatsApp's four tabs solely to its AI features. It includes a selection of "Popular AI characters" to talk to, along with others organized by subject matter. Other AI-powered features within WhatsApp include AI-generated images and stickers and a search tool using Meta AI. These AI tools and chatbots aren't new to WhatsApp, though they're only available in the US and certain other countries, and a limited selection of languages. They're currently accessed through the app's primary Chats tab, but this update looks to give them more prominence. The app is also experimenting with expanding the range of AI bots by adding the option to create personalized AI characters, which WABetaInfo found in a separate beta update today. Meta already offers the ability to create custom AI bots, but only through an AI Studio on the Instagram website. Adding the option directly into an app is a significant simplification of the process. The new AI tab replaces the existing Communities tab, though that functionality isn't going anywhere. A previous beta version earlier this week introduced a "streamlined" version of Community creation within the Chats tab. The WhatsApp beta is available through Google Play, though tester numbers are limited and the option to join is currently unavailable. We don't know if or when the AI tab will be added to the app's live build, but the change is likely to be limited only to those countries where the AI features are already available.

WhatsApp for Android to Introduce AI-Powered Chatbot Creation with Custom Traits

WhatsApp's Android version aims to offer the ability to personalize avatar AI characters within the app. Some enhancements include the feature tracker reporting that this app was being developed and seen in the latest beta releases. The feature is equivalent to the same functions on Instagram and Messenger, using artificial intelligence to offer personalized chatbots. The AI character creation feature was discovered in the Android WhatsApp beta, released in version 2.25.1.26. While the feature has yet to be released to beta testers, WABetaInfo has captured screenshots showing that users can describe the chatbot's personality traits and focus areas in text fields. Using user information, their system might also create a profile picture and bio for an AI character. The first step is the process of personality description. Subsequent rules drawn from other Meta apps include adjusting privacy settings and fine-tuning more characteristics. Suggestions at the bottom of the input screen are intended to help users generate effective and entertaining descriptions for their chatbots.

WhatsApp could soon let you chat with a veritable smorgasbord of AI bots

WhatsApp is working on a trio of updates to enhance the core app experience Summary WhatsApp plans to introduce AI bots for user conversations, offering a variety of personalities to chat with. These bots could include anime characters, advice specialists, and more, adding an entertaining and educational aspect. The feature is not available yet but may debut in a future update soon. ✕ Remove Ads WhatsApp is one of the best messaging apps out there. Not only does it provide a safe and secure way to message family, friends, and colleagues, but you can also expand past text, making and taking audio and video calls as well. But there's a reason why WhatsApp is at the top of everyone's list when it comes to messaging apps, and that's because it's always expanding its feature set, providing more value to users in the form of feature updates and optimizations. Related WhatsApp pops off with a new addition to the default reaction list And a revamped photo attachment sheet Posts Of course, not every feature is going to be the most exciting, but it's good to know that the brand is constantly making efforts in order to improve the overall experience. With that said, it appears that WhatsApp could be making some huge changes sometime in the near future, as there are now hints in the current beta that show the brand could be trying to introduce a new tab that's dedicated to AI bots. ✕ Remove Ads A new way to communicate Close Source: WABetaInfo The news comes from the folks at WABetaInfo, digging into the latest beta, sharing that the app could make use of AI bots sometime in the future. These bots will be conversational, providing users with a variety of personalities to speak with. While there will be first-party bots, it appears that there could be options for third-party ones as well. While it's really anyone's guess about how this will materialize, for now, it looks like folks will be able to chat to anime characters, advice or pop culture specialists, and many more. Again, these are all going to be AI bots, so there's no telling what the quality is going to be like when it comes to interactions. ✕ Remove Ads Of course, there are ways that something like this could be entertaining, and even educational, but it will be interesting to see how WhatsApp tackles all of this in order to make it safe and fun for the community. For the most part, this kind of feature should come as no surprise, as AI has been a hot feature, with many brands including it in some form in its products and services for the past few years. With that said, this feature is not quite available at the moment and will most likely make its debut in a future update. But if you want to see and test the latest features for WhatsApp, we recommend signing up for the beta through the Google Play Store. Otherwise, you can stay on the public building and just wait for features to roll out widely instead. ✕ Remove Ads