WhatsApp rolls out AI writing assistant for texts

Why think of what you want to say in a text message, when Meta AI can do it for you?

WhatsApp, a messaging platform owned by Meta, is rolling out a new feature called “Writing Help,” which gives users the ability to embellish and polish their messages beyond recognition.

As per WhatsApp’s own example, saying something as straightforward and clear as “please don’t leave dirty socks on sofa” may be bad manners.

Instead, Writing Help will craft sentences like “Hey, sock ninja, laundry basket is that way!” or “Breaking news: socks found chilling on the couch. Please move them.”

According to WhatsApp, the new feature, which is driven by Meta AI, will help users “get the tone of your message right.”

“You can review the suggestions from AI in various styles such as professional, funny, or supportive that you can select or continue editing to deliver that perfect message,” the company said in a blog post.

To activate Writing Help, users can simply start drafting their message either in a one-on-one or group chat, and tap the pencil icon that should appear there after an update.

Writing Help is built on top of Private Processing technology, which WhatsApp claims “keeps your messages completely private,” even from Meta. The feature is optional and is off by default.

It is currently only available in the English language, starting with the US and several other countries, with more potentially coming later this year, according to WhatsApp.

Similar features have been rolled out by other companies, including the gay dating app Grindr, whose AI-driven Wingman helps users come up with “witty” responses.