WhatsApp Rolls Out Private AI Chat

WhatsApp Launches Private AI Chat Feature

WhatsApp, owned by Meta Platforms, introduced a private chat feature for its AI chatbot on [Date, implied as recent, within the last two hours of source publication]. This new functionality, termed "incognito mode," allows users to engage with the AI without their conversations or the AI's responses being monitored by Meta. Past conversations within this mode will also disappear from the user's chat history.

The feature aims to address user concerns regarding privacy when discussing sensitive topics such as health, relationships, and finances with AI. Unlike most AI companies that store chatbot data, Meta states that this is its "first major AI product where there is no of your conversations stored on servers." While not identical to WhatsApp's end-to-end encryption, the company asserts it offers an equivalent level of privacy.

However, cybersecurity experts have raised concerns about potential accountability issues. The inability to access chat history in incognito mode could hinder investigations if AI malfunctions or provides harmful advice.

Initially, the incognito mode will process only text, and Meta AI's guardrails are designed to refuse requests interpreted as harmful or illegal. Meta is investing significantly in AI infrastructure, with projected spending of $145 billion in 2026, aiming to enhance its platforms and advertising capabilities.