WhatsApp, the popular messaging App that took over all non-Apple phones is making some changes that some users may not like. Something that many people may not know is that this App is owned by Meta (previously known as Facebook and also owner of Instagram) and they have expanded their reach and created a new AI system similar to that of ChatGPT. Why is that an issue for WhatsApp users? Well, because it is being implemented into your device whether you like it or not.
While the announcement is not exactly a secret, after all we are telling you about it, it has not been announced to users by the company, being just implemented in an update without warning. Given this strategy, there are some good news and some bad news. For now, the new Meta AI has not been fully implemented in Europe, so if you do not wish to have it in your phone, you might want to consider uninstalling WhatsApp from your device before it is upgraded. Having said that, there is no indication that this new AI will do anything other than being a chat option for users.
The new Meta AI implementation into WhatsApp
As we have said, for now, this technology is not fully available in Europe, so if you are curious about whether or not it has been installed in your phone without your permission, you will need to check for yourself. You can do this by opening the App and looking for the blue circle located in the lower right hand corner of the screen. It will be in the same bar where the “chat, news, community and calls” are located.
If it is not there, the update has not reached your device just yet. If it is, all you have to do in order to use it is to press on the blue circle and start the private conversation. This feature will work in the same way as a chatbot, just like any other AI, but you will not need to install any other Apps and will not need to leave WhatsApp to use it, allowing you to ask questions, translate texts and search for information almost instantly.
Since this new AI follows the path of others, it is a regenerative AI, which means that it learns with all the information that WhatsApp users will feed it, not just through texts and interactions, but through any information Meta decides to take from the conversations that users have had through the App.
Can you deactivate the new Meta AI from your device?
Sadly, as of right now there is no option for those who have installed the update to eliminate the Meta AI from their WhatsApp. Meta has decided to implement this change as an integral part of the App that cannot be opted out of, similar to how they implemented stories a couple of years ago. You can use it or not, but it will be there regardless. The problem with this is the consent aspect, as most of us have not signed up for our private conversations to become teaching tools for a new AI or to be used at all by Meta.
This controversial decision is a strategic move aimed at encouraging people to use Mark Zuckerberg’s AI and help Meta to stay relevant in the current tech race. Meta AI will be free to use in Europe for now, with no subscription or action required to access it. According to Zuckerberg’s company, Meta AI already has over “700 million active users per month globally.” The current goal is to significantly expand that number.