EXPLAINER: How new Meta AI feature on WhatsApp works

WhatsApp users can now access a powerful AI assistant right inside their chats, thanks to a new feature-Meta AI.

Launched in April 2024, the new tool is designed to help the over two billion users in 180 countries across the globe answer questions, generate content, plan activities, and even create images without ever leaving WhatsApp.

While announcing the new feature, Zuckerberg described it as a significant leap forward for AI assistants, highlighting both its intelligence and accessibility.

“We believe that Meta AI is now the most intelligent AI assistant that you can freely use," he said.

Zuckerberg said its unveiling marks a major step in integrating advanced AI tools directly into everyday chats as part of Meta’s broader push to integrate artificial intelligence across its platforms.

Who has access?

As of mid-2025, Meta AI is gradually rolling out to users in select countries, including the U.S and parts of Africa, including Kenya.

If you do not see it yet, it may be enabled in your account soon through an app update.

So, how exactly does it work, and what can you do with it?

Meta AI is an artificial intelligence chatbot built using Meta’s advanced large language model, Llama 3.

It is designed to help users with tasks like answering questions, creating content, summarising information, planning events, and more, all within WhatsApp.

You can think of it as a smart personal assistant available 24/7 in your chats.

How to access Meta AI

There are two main ways to use Meta AI in WhatsApp.

These are through a direct chat with Meta AI where you easily start a dedicated conversation with Meta AI like you would with a normal contact.

You can simply search for “Meta AI” in your WhatsApp chat list and start messaging it directly.

The other is within group chats, where you tag Meta AI by typing “@Meta AI” followed by your question or task.

For example: @Meta AI help me get better sleep, or @Meta AI, what are the best road trip snacks?

What can Meta AI do?

It can answer questions from simple facts to complex explanations, generate content which includes a caption, message, or creative idea and also summarise chats by condensing long messages or articles into quick summaries.

It can also provide tailored recommendations, generate images by simply typing and help organise events, make to-do lists, or find travel tips.

Is it private?

While regular WhatsApp chats are end-to-end encrypted, messages sent to Meta AI are not.

This includes both one-on-one chats with Meta AI and group mentions using @Meta AI.

In group chats, if you tag Meta AI with a question or request, other members of the group can see your prompt and the AI’s response; it is visible to everyone, not a private interaction.

Meta also stores these AI interactions, even in groups, to improve its systems, though it says the data is not used for targeted ads.