WhatsApp gets incognito mode for private Meta AI chats

New Delhi: Meta Platforms has announced a new “incognito” mode for its AI chats on WhatsApp, aimed at giving users greater privacy while interacting with its Meta AI chatbot, according to TechCrunch.

The feature will allow users to start private AI conversations within one-on-one chats via a new icon, with a similar option also planned for the standalone Meta AI app in the coming months.

Meta said these incognito conversations will operate in a secure environment, where chats will not be visible to others, will not be saved, and will disappear once the user closes the conversation.

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Alice Newton-Rex, Vice President of Product at WhatsApp, said users are increasingly turning to AI for sensitive and personal queries. “People are starting to use AI for everything, including some of their most private thoughts, whether that's tackling financial or health questions, or for advice on how to respond to a tricky message from a friend or a colleague. We think it's really important to give people the ability to ask these questions as privately as possible,” she told TechCrunch.

The company has also introduced AI-powered message summaries using similar systems, while the new incognito mode is reported to be powered by Meta’s latest AI model, Muse Spark.

In addition, Meta is developing a “Side Chat” feature, which would allow users to privately consult Meta AI within ongoing conversations without other participants seeing the interaction. Currently, AI prompts in group chats are visible to all users unless moved to a separate chat window.

The rollout of the incognito mode is expected over the coming months.

(ANI)