WhatsApp Beta Gains Ability To Edit Images With Meta AI

Meta AI is getting an upgrade that will let you get more context out of shared images and edit them right on WhatsApp.

Image: Ayomide Sadiq/ Talk Android

Artificial Intelligence may not take your job, but it's slowly taking up all the space on social media. The latest WhatsApp beta for Android, version 2.24.14.20, is developing a way for Meta AI to interact with your photos. Soon, you'll be able to ask questions about the photos you share, including identifying objects or providing context.

Plus, you could make edits to images right within the chat with Meta AI, cutting out the need for third-party apps. This feature isn't available to everyone yet, but it should be in the coming days.

WhatsApp will soon let you edit and learn more about photos from Meta AI

According to WABetaInfo, WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.24.14.20 will introduce a feature that takes Meta AI to the next level. It'll soon start replying to and editing photos you share with it on WhatsApp. First, you'll send a photo to the AI from your gallery or using the camera app. Then it will be able to reply to these photos with relevant comments or edits.

Image: WABetaInfo

The exact details of these capabilities are still under development, but the goal is to offer more interactive and intelligent photo handling within WhatsApp. It's a major upgrade from version 2.24.14.18 that introduced the ability to generate images. Currently, you can only prompt the AI to generate them. There's no button for sharing existing images in your gallery with it or taking a fresh picture. Fortunately, the upcoming update will bring the button.

Image: Irene Okpanachi / Talk Android

Another exciting AI-based WhatsApp feature is now available in the beta version 2.24.14.13. Also powered by Meta AI, Imagine Me lets you create AI-generated images of yourself without needing real photos. You upload some selfies as references, and then Meta AI will place you in different imaginary settings like forests or outer space. It's a fun way to spice up your profile pictures and express yourself in chats.

The feature is still being rolled out and is only available to some users in regions like the US and India. Additionally, the newer update will replace the green verification badge with a blue checkmark for verified channels and businesses.

WhatsApp raises valid concerns about how Meta AI uses images

Interesting as the upcoming enhancement to Meta AI sounds, we can't help but be wary of it. Meta's history with data privacy issues raises questions about how they will handle the images shared through this feature. In the screenshots of the new feature, the company states that they will analyze any photos you send to its AI, but you have the right to delete them at any time.

Even if you did have the option to delete your photos, it doesn't cancel the fact that Meta AI has already processed and stored the data from them. So, there's really no telling that your photos are gone for good. Before using the feature in the future, it's worth checking Meta's privacy policy and other terms to know what you're getting into.