Meta has expanded its implementation of Meta AI into new markets, indicated by the appearance of a light-blue circle in WhatsApp chats. This development follows its initial rollout in the United States and Canada in 2023, with recent introductions across Europe, including the UK, as well as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and India.
The AI-based chatbot is integrating across the entire Meta ecosystem, including Messenger and Instagram, offering features such as answering questions, generating text, and creating content. However, its introduction has led to privacy concerns and inquiries about the possibility of disabling it.
The new WhatsApp button is found above the new chat icon on Android devices and in the bottom-right corner on iOS, enabling users to interact with the Meta AI assistant. Users can also tag @Meta AI in conversations to engage with it, and it appears in personal contact lists.
This chatbot is built on Meta’s large, open-source language model, Llama 3.2. Like ChatGPT’s initial WhatsApp debut, Meta AI begins with a limited feature set aligned with user interests, such as text generation and web searches for information. Additional features are anticipated in the future.
Regarding data usage, Meta asserts that its assistant cannot access message content unless assistance is requested, and all messages remain end-to-end encrypted. Furthermore, no message content is linked with other Meta platforms like Facebook or Instagram. However, interactions with Meta AI lack encryption, and Meta cautions that information shared with the AI can be used to enhance its models. Users are advised against sending sensitive information. Meta assures users will be able to visually distinguish interactions with Meta AI.
Currently, there is no option to disable or remove Meta AI from WhatsApp. Users may choose to ignore it, but the button remains part of the app’s interface. Those who have used the feature but wish to reverse it can reset Meta AI at an individual chat level or more broadly. Simply deleting a chat with Meta AI will not suffice; specific reset commands are necessary.
