The Meta-owned messaging app WhatsApp has launched a new AI feature called “Writing Help” that allows users to rephrase, proofread, or adjust the tone of their messages. The feature is designed to give users more creative control over their conversations while maintaining the platform’s commitment to privacy.
Key Highlights
The new tool integrates generative AI directly into the chat composition window:
- New Feature: “Writing Help,” an in-app AI tool for rewriting messages.
- Key Functions: Can rewrite messages in a professional, funny, or supportive tone, or simply rephrase them for clarity.
- Privacy Focus: Uses Meta’s Private Processing technology, which ensures that neither Meta nor WhatsApp can read the original message or the AI-generated suggestions.
- Rollout: The feature is rolling out in English in select countries starting Wednesday.
How It Works: AI-Powered Tone Adjustment
Users can access the new feature by tapping a new pencil icon that appears when they are drafting a message. The tool then provides AI-generated suggestions to rewrite the message in different styles. For example, WhatsApp showcased how an original message, “Please don’t leave dirty socks on the sofa,” could be rewritten in a “funny” tone with options like, “Please don’t make the sofa a sock graveyard” or “Hey, sock ninja, the laundry basket is that way!”.
A Focus on Privacy and In-App Experience
A key aspect of “Writing Help” is its use of Meta’s Private Processing technology. This allows the AI to generate responses on-device without the original message or the suggested rewrites being sent to Meta’s servers, ensuring that user messages remain private. With this launch, WhatsApp is likely aiming to provide users with powerful in-app AI tools, reducing the need for them to use external platforms like ChatGPT when drafting messages.
Looking Ahead
The introduction of AI into personal messaging raises questions about the balance between convenience and authenticity. While some users will embrace the tool, others may prefer purely personal conversations. For the MENA region, a feature like this could be particularly useful in the future for navigating the nuances between formal and informal communication styles in Arabic.
Source: TechCrunch
