WhatsApp has introduced a new feature called Message Summaries, that allows users to catch up on missed messages more efficiently by generating private summaries using Meta AI.
The tool is designed to reduce the time users spend scrolling through conversations while ensuring complete privacy. It is now available for users in the U.S. using the English version of the app, with plans for broader availability in the coming months.
Message Summaries works by showing a prompt above unread messages that says Summarize with Meta AI. When tapped, it produces a brief and structured overview of the conversation’s highlights. This is especially useful for users who belong to large groups or receive numerous messages throughout the day and want to get the gist of what they missed.
Meta says the technology is built with user privacy at its core. Summaries are processed using what the company refers to as private processing architecture. This approach ensures that message content is handled securely inside isolated environments in the cloud, known as secure enclaves, and is not stored or viewed by WhatsApp, Meta, or other users.
Only the person who requests the summary can view it, and no notifications are sent to other participants in the chat when a summary is generated.
The company has previously added tools that help users compose messages and create images using generative AI, and this new feature builds on that momentum while addressing a practical problem many users face i.e. information overload in messaging apps.
Since Message Summaries is entirely optional, users must enable the feature themselves, and they can also choose to turn it off for specific chats through the Advanced Chat Privacy settings.
As of now, WhatsApp has not confirmed a timeline for expanding the feature beyond the U.S. or to other languages.
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