WhatsApp has quietly introduced a new artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot on iPhones in the UK, even as users complain that they just want to message mates and not machines.
The change comes weeks after the digital assistant, dubbed Meta AI, debuted on Android in the UK and Europe, reigniting a backlash that’s been simmering since it first popped up on Instagram and other Meta apps last year.
Frustrated WhatsApp users have taken to social media to vent. Some are simply miffed that they can’t remove the chatbot, others are uneasy about their data being used to train it. Of course, some are threatening to jump ship to Signal or Telegram if WhatsApp doesn’t walk back the update.
The subsequent outcry has grown loud enough to reach Brussels, where one EU lawmaker has raised concerns over the AI’s impact on user control and digital safety.
Now, with the feature quietly landing on iOS, millions more will get to experience the AI up close.
How to use Meta AI on WhatsApp for iPhone
Following WhatsApp’s recent update on iPhone, a new Meta AI button with a bluish-purple circular logo has now been placed in the chats tab (the app’s home page).
Clicking on it lets you message the chatbot, which works in the same vein as ChatGPT minus some advanced features like image and video generation. You can ask it for new TV show recommendations, get it to craft work emails and ask for travel tips for your next holiday.
WhatsApp’s parent Meta is also hoping you’ll summon it in group chats by typing @MetaAI. Plus, you can access it via the search bar, where you’ll also find suggestions for questions you can run by it.
Can you disable Meta AI on WhatsApp?
But what if you prefer your WhatsApp sans AI? Well, the bad news is there’s no way to disable or remove the bot, despite misinformation online about a setting that lets you switch it off.
Some have suggested switching to WhatsApp for Business (a modified version of the app catered to business owners) as a means of avoiding the chatbot, but that will probably be a step too far for most users.
For its part, WhatsApp says that it isn’t forcing the bot on anyone - and that, for the most part, the reception to Meta AI has been positive.
And, according to Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg, Meta AI is on track to become the world’s leading artificial intelligence, after attracting nearly 500 million users.
