WhatsApp Introduces AI Image Generation, But Is It Useful?
By Joshua Hawkins
Meta is now rolling out new AI features in its apps.
It looks like Meta is starting to introduce more AI features into WhatsApp, and the first one is, admittedly, a bit underwhelming.
Opinions on the influx of AI into WhatsApp have been mixed since Meta announced its plans. Some have questioned the move, particularly because WhatsApp is end-to-end encrypted. However, that hasn’t stopped Mark Zuckerberg from pushing his vision of useful AI features on users of Meta’s apps.
According to reports, the latest beta version of WhatsApp has brought more AI features to the messaging app. If you hoped for something particularly useful, you might be disappointed. The “AI-powered” feature will only let you generate images for your chats—and just for group chats, at that. It’s indeed a strange limitation, but it will likely expand to other chats, and perhaps even profile pictures, in time.
While many still question the need for AI in WhatsApp, some like ChatGPT have started using WhatsApp to interact with AI chatbots—and it might even be the best way to do it.
Image generation for profile icons and group chat icons is not something most find that useful. So its appearance in WhatsApp isn’t a huge deal. As some experts have pointed out, the arrival of AI into an end-to-end encrypted messaging app comes with potentially concerning implications.
Meta has yet to confirm if it plans to extend the image generation feature beyond group icons, or if it will remain limited. It will likely eventually be available for all those options at some point, as limiting it to just group chats seems pointless. Because Meta is working to give AI bots prime access to WhatsApp users, expect to see even more features like these pop up in the messaging app soon.
