What Is the Meta AI Button in WhatsApp, and How Do I Remove It? – WIRED

🔍 Summary:

Meta has recently expanded the reach of its AI technology, introducing a new feature in WhatsApp that allows users to interact with an AI assistant. This feature, represented by a light-blue circle, has been launched in several new markets including the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and India, following its initial rollout in the US and Canada in 2023.

The AI, based on Meta’s Llama 3.2 language model, can perform tasks such as answering questions, generating text, and searching the web. It appears as a button in WhatsApp and can be directly accessed or tagged in chats. Despite the convenience, this feature has sparked privacy concerns. Meta assures that while messages remain end-to-end encrypted, interactions with the AI are not, and data from these interactions may be used to enhance AI models.

Users cannot disable the AI feature in WhatsApp, but they can reset it to delete any learned information from interactions. This reset option is available across Meta platforms including Messenger and Instagram. Additionally, users can manage the AI’s memory of personal details through specific commands within the chat interface.

This development is part of Meta’s broader integration of AI across its platforms, aiming to enhance user experience while navigating privacy considerations.

📌 Source: https://www.wired.com/story/what-is-the-meta-ai-button-in-whatsapp-and-how-do-i-remove-it/