WhatsApp just rolled out a new AI-powered feature designed to save users time—Message Summaries, powered by Meta AI. Announced Wednesday, the tool analyzes long chat threads and generates concise bullet-point summaries, but with a key privacy-focused twist: it’s opt-in only.
How It Works
- Users can tap “Summarize privately” at the top of a busy chat.
- Meta AI then generates a brief overview, highlighting:
- The main topic of the conversation.
- Key participants and their responses.
- Example: A group planning a meetup might see a summary like:
*”Group check-in: 3/5 confirmed attendance, 2 pending replies.”*
Privacy First: How WhatsApp Keeps Data Secure
Given Meta’s history with privacy concerns, WhatsApp emphasized safeguards:
- Off by default – Users must actively enable it.
- Private Processing – Uses temporary Confidential Virtual Machines (CVMs) that delete data after analysis.
- No Meta access – The company claims Meta AI doesn’t “see” messages or summaries.
A technical white paper details the backend, though Meta hasn’t yet commented further.
Availability
Currently rolling out to English-speaking users in the U.S., with potential global expansion later.
