Key Takeaways
- WhatsApp is rolling out its Meta AI chatbot feature more widely, leading to user frustration.
- Many users are upset because there is no option to disable or remove the integrated AI.
- Meta AI is an artificial intelligence assistant developed by Meta, similar to ChatGPT.
- Some users have tried workarounds like switching to WhatsApp Business or older app versions, but these aren’t guaranteed fixes.
- While personal messages remain end-to-end encrypted, conversations with Meta AI are not and can be used by Meta to improve its AI.
WhatsApp users are expressing frustration over a new artificial intelligence feature being integrated into the popular messaging app. The feature, known as Meta AI, is appearing for more people, and many are unhappy about its presence.
Meta AI was introduced last year as a helpful chatbot designed to answer questions, offer ideas, or teach users something new. However, its recent, wider rollout, particularly in the UK, has sparked backlash.
The core issue for many users is the inability to remove or disable the feature. According to Metro.co.uk, some users feel stuck with the chatbot, comparing the situation to being unable “to opt out of a bad blind date.”
Meta AI is powered by artificial intelligence developed by Meta, functioning similarly to other chatbots like ChatGPT. It’s being added not just to WhatsApp but also to other Meta platforms like Instagram and Facebook across numerous countries.
In WhatsApp, the AI often appears as a glowing blue circle icon, typically in the bottom right corner, which opens a chat when tapped. Users can also invoke it in chats by typing “@Meta AI” followed by a prompt.
Despite Meta stating the feature is optional to use, its constant visibility and the lack of a removal option have annoyed many. Social media has seen numerous complaints, with users calling it “pointless and irritating” or feeling like their phone “just got a clingy new roommate.”
Some users have experimented with ways to get rid of the feature. Suggestions include switching to the WhatsApp Business app or trying to install an older version of WhatsApp on Android devices. However, these methods aren’t foolproof and may only offer temporary relief as the rollout continues.
Regarding privacy, Meta assures users that personal messages and calls remain end-to-end encrypted. The content of your private chats isn’t accessible to the AI unless you specifically involve it by forwarding a message or asking it a question directly within a chat.
Crucially, conversations *with* Meta AI itself are not end-to-end encrypted. Meta states these interactions may be used to enhance its AI models, advising users not to share sensitive information they wouldn’t want the company to know.
