WhatsApp has rolled out a new artificial intelligence (AI) feature designed to help users catch up on unread personal messages. The new tool, called Message Summaries, uses Meta AI to quickly generate bullet-point summaries of unread chats. This feature is especially useful for users who are short on time or overwhelmed by a flood of messages.
To access it, users simply need to tap the “unread messages” button in a chat, and Meta AI will provide a quick summary of what was missed. Currently, the feature is being launched in the United States, with plans to expand to additional countries and languages later in the year.
“We’re excited to launch Message Summaries, which allow users to privately get a quick overview of unread messages before diving into the full conversation,” WhatsApp remarked in its announcement.
How the Feature Works
The new feature depends on Private Processing Technology, which enables Meta AI to process requests such as summarizing messages while maintaining user privacy. Neither Meta nor WhatsApp has access to the message content or the generated summaries.
Importantly, this feature is optional and turned off by default. Users have full control over whether or not they want to enable it. Also, Advanced Chat Privacy settings allow users to choose which specific chats can be used for AI features.
This development is part of WhatsApp’s more general push into AI. Over the past year, Meta has introduced several AI-driven tools in the app, such as the ability to ask Meta AI questions directly within a chat and even generate images in real time.
What Is Private Processing Technology?
Private Processing is a secure cloud-based system that supports AI functions like message summarization or writing suggestions, all while keeping user data protected. According to Meta, this technology ensures that data is processed in a confidential environment, safeguarding it from unauthorized access.
Ads Coming to WhatsApp
In a separate update, WhatsApp has also confirmed that ads will soon appear in the Updates tab, following a model similar to Instagram. These ads will be shown between status updates, and WhatsApp will use general data like the user’s city, language, and followed channels to serve relevant promotions.
Also, WhatsApp is introducing revenue-generating features such as paid channel subscriptions and promotional tools for channel owners. Payments for subscriptions will be handled through app stores.
With a focus on AI innovation and new monetization strategies, WhatsApp continues to develop both as a communication tool and a business platform. If you’re catching up on messages or browsing channel updates, the app is becoming more dynamic and more personalized than ever before. It’s being introduced in the US first, with a wider rollout planned for later this year.
