Latest WhatsApp Beta for iPhone Includes AI Writing Help Feature

[MacRumors]

WhatsApp is testing an AI-powered writing assistant feature for iPhone users that aims to improve communication over the message platform, reports WaBetaInfo. Writing Tools, which is an Apple Intelligence feature, is not available in WhatsApp – and this is presumably why.

Called "Writing Help," the new feature is already available on Android and appears within the messaging platform's app interface whenever the user types a phrase or sentence into the chat input field.

A pen symbol replaces the sticker icon in the chat bar to indicate that the AI assistant is available to provide writing suggestions. When the user taps the symbol, Writing Help offers users improvements to the structure, tone, or clarity of their message before it's sent.

The feature offers at least three alternative phrasings for the message text that are based on five user-selectable options, including rephrase (improves clarity and flow), professional, funny, supportive, and proofread. Users can use one of the suggestions or keep the original message, and the recipient is not notified if AI is used.

Meta says its new Writing Help feature runs on the same Private Processing system that powers other Meta AI tools across its apps.

Like the Android version, the assistant is switched off by default and has to be enabled manually. According to Meta, users' data isn't stored, and messages are encrypted and processed anonymously. The AI scan is also limited to the draft in the input box, meaning the conversation history remains out of bounds.

This is a beta feature delivered through TestFlight, so there's no timeline for a full release. Still, with Meta accelerating its rollout of AI-driven tools, Writing Help is likely to reach more users sooner rather than later.

Apple's Writing Tools include options to proofread, rewrite, and summarize text almost anywhere you can type in iOS 18. A long press in a text input field usually brings up the feature, but not in any of Meta's apps currently.

According to a Wall Street Journal report from June 2024, Apple held discussions with Meta about integrating the Facebook owner's AI model into iOS 18 as part of its Apple Intelligence feature set. However, Apple turned down the AI partnership due to privacy concerns. Apple instead ended up signing a deal with OpenAI to include optional ChatGPT access in its Siri responses.

Article Link: Latest WhatsApp Beta for iPhone Includes AI Writing Help Feature

 

[arkitect]

*sigh*
This makes me sad…

We're in danger of losing our authentic voices. Warts and all… not just spelling mistakes and poor grammar, but our individual style.

Soon everything will read and sound like American TV broadcasts.

 

[dustin_]

if you need a robot to help you send a text idk what to tell you, but things aren’t great. i genuinely worry about our collective future.

eta: “recipient is not notified if AI is used.” maybe they should be. maybe we should all be made explicitly aware anytime AI is used anywhere.

 

[cjsuk]

No one wants this. Everyone will be the same.

 

[attila]

If you can't express your own thoughts when you text me, I'm blocking you. Out of my life.

 

[attila]

No one wants this. Everyone will be the same.

This is an underrated statement. If everybody uses "writing tools" in emails and messages, everybody will sound the same.

(And everybody will also sound very lame.)

 

[Havalo]

M(ark)eta’s Artificial Infiltration…

 

[Devyn89]

Cool, more reason to avoid WhatsApp.

 

[lanomds1]

This is so creepy, basically we will be texting each other through AI and our personalities will just vanish. How we will be able to connect then? It's time to prioritise in person meetings and connections.

 

[Loud_Texan]

If it stops “youths” from writing “tryna” or translating garbage to proper English, I’m okay with it.

 

[Dan08]

All I have wanted for years now is to be able to have two numbers on the same iPhone app (since I have dual SIMs)…
But instead they have been dedicating all of their time to features like this which are already built into the OS…

 

[Scotty_Trees]

I won't use AI tools for my personal needs, but working a job that doesn't pay a living wage I'll use AI all the time if need be. I won't lose my humanity with AI, I lose it with jobs that don't pay a decent wage to live.

 

[Plutonius]

It will end up being bots messaging each other .

 

[haruhiko]

If it’s not on device, we all know why

 

[RestlessCaviar]

*sigh*
This makes me sad…

We're in danger of losing our authentic voices. Warts and all… not just spelling mistakes and poor grammar, but our individual style.

Soon everything will read and sound like American TV broadcasts.

That’s so insightful, you’re right to point that out. Would you like me to cheerfully discuss the eventual destruction of humanity?

 

[zorinlynx]

Oh gods, why? Just no!

I'd rather see your imperfect grammar and spelling than AI-tweaked text. Your writing is YOU!

 

[FFMcGee]

“A bug was discovered where the conversation history wasn’t out of bounds for the AI, and another bug was discovered where the AI phones home with the results. Meta is looking into the issue.”

 

[Hank001]

This is so creepy, basically we will be texting each other through AI and our personalities will just vanish. How we will be able to connect then? It's time to prioritise in person meetings and connections.

I wasn't able to connect with you when reading your second sentence.

If it stops “youths” from writing “tryna” or translating garbage to proper English, I’m okay with it.

Boyz will B Boyz.

 

[elgipsy]

still trying to figure out how to get rid of that meta AI button forced on us, terribly placed and something I didn't ask for .... the least AI from Meta, the better

 

[Digitalweddings]

Hopefully we can then ask AI to send a scheduled message since they won't implement it

 

[applefan8254]

Whatsapp still requires a phone number which is annoying. It would be nice to see them do email+password login and editable usernames. (like slack, ms teams, google chat, discord, etc) Also, it would be nice to see the edit button made available forever, like slack, ms teams, google chat, discord, etc...we should control our digital footprint. People who claim that "15 minutes is good" - what do they think about slack, teams, google chat, and discord allowing unlimited editing. I don't think WhatsApp should be going for a "everything we type is set in stone type of platform". I think it should be a bit more casual and allow forever edits - not saying that's what people *should* do - but the fact that it's allowed makes me, and many others more comfortable with other chat platforms, and the issue is that meta kind of has a bit of a monopolistic hold on things and so sometimes I want to type things that are blunt like "no thanks" because, sometimes it feels like giving them ideas kind of "feeds the beast" but here I am, typing out some ideas.


Another thing WhatsApp could use is 2 primary devices. It's good we can link a few devices to our 1 primary device, and I can understand some security benefits of not just allowing *unlimited* primary devices. However, I think *2* primary devices could be a good happy medium that still balances functionality with security. This way, we could login to *1* extra device *without* having to *link it* to the *1* primary device. This would give us 2 primary devices, with 4 linked means 8 devices total, I think is good. Still not unlimited for better security, but one extra primary device would enhance functionality/accessibility.

But WhatsApp needs an ability to signup with email and password and allow 2 primary devices and give us editable usernames so we don't have to share our phone number. There's so much spam out there today, we should be able to converse with people with editable usernames instead of requiring sharing our phone number. Also, their linked devices function is too limited and needs to allow 10 linked devices. backup and storage should be on the WhatsApp cloud instead of requiring backup and restore everytime.

 

[Ctrlos]

2025:

Parent IM: "Son, what's the password for the WiFi again?"

*Hey Meta, send a reply saying I'm not sure about it.*

AI Reply: "Salutations responsible adult. I am forthwith unsure about the secret code to access our home wireless internet-ificator."

2024:

Parent IM: "Son, what's the password for the WiFi again?"

Teenager IM: "IDK"

 

[Capeto]

I'm already getting an option for it on my phone that doesn't have the beta installed (and I've never been on their beta program). I haven't pressed "Get started" because I don't use generative AI and limit my use of Meta products to Whatsapp.

 

[Rayansb]

oh christ

 

[Rand0mUserNam3]

Metas definition of private is very different from the actual meaning