'I hate this': Brits are fuming over WhatsApp's new feature

The world's most popular messaging service has left its billions of users furious at the new AI feature added to the app.

In recent weeks, the Meta AI button - a glowing blue circle - appeared as a new feature on WhatsApp for British users.

'Why the hell do we need an AI in a chat app. It is so annoying, even when I search chat it shows stupid recommendation on top,' complained one Reddit user.

Another added: 'The search part is the most annoying, am just trying to search someone's name not ask GPT to make a picture.'

Like ChatGPT, the feature allows users to ask questions to the tech giant's digital chatbot.

They can also type '@MetaAI' into their personal chat and engage in back-and-forth conversations with the bot.

But users have complained that the tool is unnecessary and 'rubbish'.

Meta AI has been available to use on Instagram for some time and launched overseas before appearing on the British iteration of WhatsApp.

In recent weeks, the Meta AI button - a glowing blue circle - appeared as a new feature on WhatsApp for British users (file image)

Meta AI is considered to be part of Mark Zuckerberg's plan to top Open AI - an AI competitor

How to use Meta AI
To access the tool, open Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp or Messenger and tap the round blue and purple ring icon.

Alternatively, if you're writing out a message to someone you can type '@MetaAI' to introduce the chatbot into the conversation.

You can also head to meta.ai webpage to use the MetaAI on the web - although you will be asked to login to your Facebook or Instagram account.

In addition, Meta's £300 smart glasses, made in partnership with Ray-Ban, get it in the form of an AI voice assistant.

It is powered by Llama 4 algorithm and can occasionally make up information if it lacks a sufficient answer - this is known as a 'hallucination'.

The tool allows users to do everything from generate fake images, to plan dinners based on what's in your fridge.

Meta says the tool can be used for 'just about anything', from how-to tips, game ideas, lunch recipes and finding out the latest football scores.

For example, you could say 'give me some vegetarian dinner party recipe ideas' and it will respond in a similar style to ChatGPT and Google's Gemini.

Just like ChatGPT, Meta AI also has image-generation capabilities, which are swiftly proving a quick and popular way to quickly create a wide range of fanciful depictions.

However, this feature is not available in the UK yet.

Meta admits that your history with the chatbot will be saved - although it says you can delete an old conversation with Meta AI at any time.

But be wary, it does include a function that warns users not to share: 'sensitive topics ... that you don't want the AI to retain and use'.

A spokesman for WhatsApp told The Telegraph: 'We make any chat with AI visually distinct so it's clear they're different to personal chats.'

They said: 'Personal messages with friends and family are end-to-end encrypted - no change there.'

Meta AI is considered to be part of Mark Zuckerberg's plan to top Open AI - an AI competitor.

In January he said he believed 2025 would be 'the year when a highly intelligent and personalised AI assistant reaches more than 1bn people'.

Comments

Keep up to date with our latest articles and uploads...