Meta AI now integrated into WhatsApp: How it works and how it compares to ChatGPT

WhatsApp has officially begun rolling out Meta AI to its mobile app, integrating advanced conversational capabilities directly into the messaging platform.

The feature, which is rolling out globally to selected countries including Kenya, is available on both iOS and Android, but users must update to the latest version of the app to access it.

The integration brings Meta’s Llama 3 AI model into WhatsApp, enabling users to interact with the AI directly within the app, asking questions, summarising information, generating text and images, or simply chatting.

Where and how it appears

As for now, Meta AI appears in two main locations:

At the top of the chat list, within a new search bar labelled "Ask Meta AI" or as a dedicated chat contact within the app, at the bottom right, allowing users to open a conversation with the AI like they would with any other contact.

In future updates, Meta AI plans that it may be accessible inside group chats using the @Meta AI mention, though that feature is still limited and under testing by developers.

The rollout is gradual and region-based, and Kenya is among the early countries included.

This means not all users will see the feature immediately, even with the latest update; availability may depend on phone model, region, and app store rollout schedules.

Comparison with ChatGPT and other models

While Meta AI is designed for casual, fast interaction within WhatsApp, it draws comparisons to OpenAI’s ChatGPT, particularly the GPT-4o model.

“I still feel it needs a lot of work compared to ChatGPT when it comes to answering or responding to questions,” said Mellissa Waithera, a California resident, in an interview with The Eastleigh Voice on Thursday.

“I tried asking it to respond to a question one of my contacts asked, but it redirected me outside the application. Honestly, I feel I’ll just stick to ChatGPT, it understands me better.”

WhatsApp's new Meta AI has a long way to go. Since it began rolling out Meta AI, user reactions have been mixed.

While the feature is an exciting step toward integrating AI into everyday messaging, many feel it still needs significant improvement.

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These issues highlight that despite its potential, Meta AI on WhatsApp is not yet as responsive or versatile as more mature AI systems.

The current limitations in understanding complex queries and the ongoing gradual rollout mean the technology still has a long way to go before it can fully meet user expectations, so let us give it some grace.

Meta has also confirmed that the AI assistant is rolling out gradually and will reach more countries in the coming weeks.

The rollout will be for both individual and business users worldwide. This includes the WhatsApp Business app, where AI tools are designed to help businesses automate customer interactions, generate smarter responses, and create AI-assisted advertising content linked to WhatsApp chats.

Users are advised to update their WhatsApp app regularly to check for availability.

Can you disable it if you are worried about privacy?

WhatsApp does not offer a direct option to completely remove or disable the integrated Meta AI feature within the app. Since it is built into the latest versions of WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business as part of a gradual rollout, users can only limit its use by not interacting with it or sending any prompts to it.