WhatsApp is rolling out a new feature that uses Meta’s artificial intelligence to generate summaries of unread messages in personal chats. Initially available in English for users in the United States, this tool is designed to offer a quicker way to catch up on missed conversations without reading through every message individually.
Users can activate the summary function by tapping to view unread messages within a chat. Instead of presenting each individual message, the AI produces a bulleted list highlighting key points from the conversation. This feature, according to WhatsApp, is entirely optional and disabled by default. Users also have the ability to restrict its use in group chats through the app’s Advanced Privacy settings.
Meta claims the summaries are processed through its Private Processing system, which creates a secure cloud environment to ensure message privacy. The company states that neither Meta nor WhatsApp has access to the actual summaries or the contents of user messages. Summaries are visible only to the user who enables them, and not to other participants in the chat.
This move is part of a broader effort by Meta to integrate AI tools into WhatsApp. Over the past year, the platform has added features like real-time image generation and an embedded AI assistant users can query from within a chat. However, not all changes have been welcomed. The addition of a permanent Meta AI button in the app’s interface has frustrated some users, particularly given that it can’t be removed. More controversially, Meta’s decision to introduce advertising into WhatsApp has also stirred backlash, clashing with the app’s original no-ads philosophy.
While Meta positions the AI message summaries as a user-friendly convenience, questions remain around accuracy and reliability. Similar features introduced by other companies, such as Apple, have encountered early issues with factual errors. As the rollout expands, how well the feature performs in practice will be key to user adoption.
