WhatsApp is releasing a new AI feature that’s basically like having a writing buddy in your pocket. It’s called “Writing Help”, and just as the name suggests, it’s there to lend a hand when you’re composing a message.
Whether you need to sound a bit more professional, crack a joke, or just be more supportive, it’ll pop up with a few suggestions. You can take its advice or just ignore it completely and carry on typing as usual.
Giving it a go is pretty straightforward. Next time you’re in any chat—a one-on-one or a group—just tap the new little pencil icon that appears. Now, before anyone gets nervous about Meta reading their private chats, the company is making a big deal about its ‘Private Processing’ tech.
They promise this system lets their AI generate those suggestions without WhatsApp or Meta actually being able to read your original message or the rewrites it creates for you.
WhatsApp reckons it’s put this Private Processing tech through its paces, working with security experts to stress-test and validate the whole thing. But, in classic WhatsApp fashion, the feature is completely optional and switched off by default. If you’re not convinced by Meta’s privacy promises, you can just leave it turned off and carry on as normal.
For now, Writing Help is starting to roll out in English, primarily in the U.S. and a handful of other countries. The rest of us around the world, and those who prefer other languages, should expect to see it arrive a bit later this year.