Meta rolled out Meta AI on WhatsApp across some countries, and now it seems the company is working on making it more accessible. This follows the trend of WhatsApp making huge changes every other month for the last year. Meta AI can already be used in chats, but this feature intends to make it even easier to access quickly. It also looks like WhatsApp might be working on other AI-powered features as well.
WhatsApp Meta AI straight from the search bar
According to WABetaInfo, this feature is still under development. WhatsApp’s latest Android beta – version 2.24.7.14 – shows a feature to ask queries straight from the search bar. Currently, Meta AI is used for text-based responses as well as image generation. The AI can be accessed in a direct chat or in a group chat. This feature, while quite helpful, is only available in a select few countries at the moment.
To save users the hassle of having to open a chat, the search bar is undergoing a slight overhaul. Now, when a user types something in it, they will see a prompt to “Ask Meta AI”. The app will also suggest some prompts and queries to streamline the process. These suggestions will also help users word their queries better, and receive better replies as a result.
AI at your fingertips
Ever since ChatGPT took the world by storm, AI has crept into almost every industry. Wearable AI pins and bracelets and AI-powered virtual assistants all have one goal. And that is to put AI at the fingertips of everyone. Even slight user experience enhancements, like WhatsApp’s Meta AI search bar function, are designed to promote AI use. The easier it gets to access AI, the more people will be compelled to use it. This isn’t even the only use for AI WhatsApp has found. The app introduced AI-generated stickers some time back.
And now it appears WhatsApp might also be looking to integrate AI-powered image editing tools. The Google Pixel 8s and Galaxy AI have already shown just how useful and powerful these tools can be. And now it seems almost every new laptop and phone coming out will be powered by AI. In a few years, everything on every device will be powered by artificial intelligence. Images, emails, documents, videos, and everything in between will have AI involved in some way or another.
WhatsApp’s integration of Meta AI into the search bar is a very welcome change, and we can expect many more like it.
