WhatsApp has introduced a new feature named "Writing Help", an AI-powered tool designed to enhance the clarity, professionalism, and tone of messages directly within the app. The feature, which launched on Wednesday, allows users to rewrite messages with ease while maintaining the platform’s strong emphasis on privacy.
Users can access "Writing Help" by typing a message, tapping a pencil-shaped icon, and selecting from various rewriting styles, including professional, humorous, supportive, or error correction. The tool generates multiple suggestions and offers users the option to retain the original text or adopt one of the AI-generated alternatives. Crucially, recipients of a message cannot see whether it was revised using the feature.
Privacy-focused design
Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, emphasized that "Writing Help" leverages proprietary technology called "Private Processing" to safeguard user data. "Private Processing" encrypts user requests and sends them anonymously to Meta’s servers. According to Meta, neither WhatsApp, Meta, nor any third party can access or store the content of the messages.
Meta also clarified that the original messages and AI-generated suggestions are not stored or linked to specific users. Instead, suggestions are returned directly to the user’s device without leaving a digital trace. To use the feature, users must first activate the "Private Processing" option in their app settings, after which the pencil icon will appear next to the message input field.
Expanding WhatsApp’s functionality
The launch of "Writing Help" signals WhatsApp’s growing ambition to serve users beyond personal messaging. With businesses increasingly utilizing WhatsApp for professional communication, including through WhatsApp Business, the tool aims to assist users in writing more polished messages, particularly in non-native languages, or quickly correcting typos and grammatical issues.
The tool was initially tested with a limited group of users and is now available in English to Android and iOS users across the United States and other countries. Support for additional languages and regions is planned for later this year. However, users in Israel will have to wait, as there is no confirmed release date for Hebrew or local availability.
Competing in AI-enhanced messaging
With this launch, Meta joins leading tech companies like Telegram, Microsoft, and Google in integrating AI writing tools into messaging platforms. By combining AI-driven functionality with its commitment to user privacy, Meta aims to stand out in an increasingly competitive space. If the rollout is successful and expanded globally, this innovation could significantly alter the way users compose everyday messages.
