Ever struggled to find the perfect words for a message? WhatsApp might soon lend a hand. Meta, the company behind WhatsApp, is pushing hard into artificial intelligence, focusing on tools that make our chats easier. And don’t worry, they say privacy is still a top priority.
The newest helper is called “Writing Help.” This feature is designed to polish your messages before you hit send.
“Writing Help” uses large language model (LLM) technology. It’s currently available for English speakers in the United States and some other countries. More features are coming later. This tool can rewrite your text or change its tone. Just type your message, then tap the pencil icon. The AI will offer suggestions in various styles, like professional or funny.
Meta explained its goal clearly, saying, “Sometimes, you know what you want to say, but need a little help saying it. That’s why today we’re introducing Writing Help. You can review AI suggestions in various styles, such as professional, funny, or supportive, which you can select or continue to edit to convey the perfect message.” You get to pick the best option or keep editing it yourself.
Keeping Your Chats Private
WhatsApp assures everyone that this new feature does not harm your privacy. It uses Meta’s “Private Processing” technology. This system powers AI tools, like message summaries, without Meta ever reading your actual message content.
Here’s how it works behind the scenes. Your device sends requests using end-to-end encryption. A third-party relay then routes these requests using something called Oblivious HTTP (OHTTP). This OHTTP protocol hides your IP address. The actual processing happens inside a super-secure, confidential virtual machine. This setup stops Meta from seeing your data. Once the AI creates its suggestion, your message data is immediately thrown away.
Still, some people might worry about their data with new AI tools. For these users, WhatsApp made sure that features with Private Processing are optional. So, “Writing Help” is turned off by default. You have to choose to use it.
New Income Streams for WhatsApp
While WhatsApp adds smart helpers, it’s also changing how it makes money. Ads are finally coming to the app. WhatsApp had no ads since Meta bought it for a huge $19 billion back in 2014. That’s about to change.
The good news is that these ads won’t pop up in your private chats. Instead, you’ll see them mixed in with Status updates. Beyond ads, Meta is also letting people pay to boost their channels, reaching a bigger audience.