IF you’ve recently spotted a light-blue circle in your WhatsApp app, you’re not alone. That new icon is the Meta AI assistant, now rolling out to users worldwide, including in the UK, South Africa, India, and Australia. Initially launched in the US and Canada in 2023, Meta’s AI chatbot is expanding across the platform’s global user base—and it’s here to stay.
According to reporting by Wired.com, Meta is integrating its AI-powered chatbot across WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram, offering users access to a virtual assistant that can answer questions, generate content, and assist with web searches. The assistant is powered by Meta’s open-source language model, Llama 3.2, and forms part of the tech giant’s broader push into artificial intelligence.
Where you’ll find Meta AI and what it can do
On Android, the Meta AI button appears just above the icon used to start a new chat. On iOS, it’s located in the bottom-right corner. Tapping the icon opens a chat with the AI assistant, and users can also tag @Meta AI in group or individual conversations to get answers or content suggestions.
The assistant currently offers a range of basic functions, from generating text to answering trivia questions and helping users find information online. According to Wired, more advanced features are expected to roll out gradually.
However, unlike your private WhatsApp chats, interactions with Meta AI are not end-to-end encrypted. Meta clearly states that anything shared with its chatbot may be used to train and improve its AI systems. In its privacy notice, the company advises users not to send sensitive or private information when chatting with the assistant.
Can you turn Meta AI off in WhatsApp?
At present, there’s no way to remove or disable Meta AI from the app. The button remains visible even if users choose to ignore it. However, you can manage your interaction history with the assistant and control the data it stores.
If you’ve interacted with Meta AI and want to reset or delete its memory, there are a couple of commands you can use:
- To reset a single chat: type /reset-ai
- To reset all chats: type /reset-all-ais
These commands work not just in WhatsApp but also across Meta’s other platforms like Messenger and Instagram.
How to view or delete what Meta AI knows about you
Meta AI retains data from your interactions to personalise responses over time. To see what the assistant knows—or thinks it knows—about you, start a chat with it and navigate to: Meta AI > Memory > View All
From there, users can delete individual memories by holding down on them and tapping the trash can icon. To erase all memory, select the three-dot menu icon and choose: Delete All > Delete All
If Meta AI has recorded inaccurate information, you can correct it directly in chat by simply stating the correct detail.
Users urged to stay cautious with AI privacy
While Meta assures users that private WhatsApp messages remain fully encrypted and untouched, Wired.com notes growing concern among users and privacy experts about how AI interactions are handled. Because AI chats are not encrypted and can be used to refine Meta’s algorithms, the advice is clear: think before you type.
Meta says chats with the assistant are visually distinct to help users avoid confusion, but questions remain around data retention, user control, and consent.
As Meta pushes deeper into AI integration across its platforms, users will need to balance convenience with caution. For now, Meta AI is here—and unless policies change, it’s not going anywhere.
