WhatsApp Begins Testing Meta AI in India with Select Users

WhatsApp, the popular messaging application under the Meta umbrella, is taking a significant step forward by integrating artificial intelligence into its platform. For some users in India, the Meta AI icon has begun appearing in the main chat list, signaling the introduction of Meta’s advanced AI technology. Powered by the company’s Large Language Model Meta AI, affectionately known as Llama, this innovative feature promises a wide range of capabilities. From answering queries to providing recommendations and engaging in casual conversation, Meta AI aims to enhance the user experience on WhatsApp.

Brief glimpse of this AI-enabled feature on Wednesday before it disappeared, suggesting that it may be undergoing limited testing. Screenshots reveal that initiating a chat with Meta AI displays a verified badge and the hashtag “#with Llama#”. Users are encouraged to interact with Meta AI by asking questions or exploring suggested conversation prompts. These prompts, presented in a carousel format, cover diverse topics such as imagining scenarios like a car race on Mars or setting healthy life goals. Positioned in the top right corner alongside the Camera and New Chat options, the Meta AI icon bears a resemblance to Microsoft’s Cortana assistant.

The introduction of Meta AI represents a significant advancement for WhatsApp, marking its entry into the realm of artificial intelligence. Leveraging Meta’s expertise in AI technology, WhatsApp aims to offer users a more interactive and personalized messaging experience. With Meta AI’s ability to engage in diverse conversations and provide relevant information, users can expect a richer and more dynamic interaction within the app.

While the Meta AI feature is currently in testing phase with select users in India, its potential impact on WhatsApp’s user base and engagement levels is considerable. By integrating AI capabilities into its platform, WhatsApp is positioning itself to stay competitive in the rapidly evolving messaging landscape. As Meta continues to refine and expand Meta AI’s capabilities, WhatsApp users can look forward to further enhancements and innovations in the future.

As the testing of Meta AI progresses and feedback is gathered from users, WhatsApp will likely refine and optimize the feature before rolling it out more widely. This iterative approach reflects WhatsApp’s commitment to delivering high-quality and user-centric features that enhance the overall messaging experience. With Meta AI, WhatsApp is taking a significant step towards realizing its vision of enabling seamless communication and connection for users around the world.

Interestingly, WhatsApp also takes feedback from users on Meta AI. Users can tap and hold the AI-generated responses and tap on ‘Good response’ or ‘Bad response’. Users can also type a reason and submit it.

Meta on the WhatsApp FAQ page mentions that “some messages generated by AIs might not be accurate or appropriate.” Meta recently announced Llama 2, the next generation of its large language model for generative AI assistants, and it is expected to release Llama 3 in the coming weeks.