Meta’s AI assistant is now integrated into WhatsApp, but its sudden arrival has sparked privacy and data concerns among users. Credits: Shutterstock, Hengki TJ
You may have already seen it – a small blue circle sitting quietly in the corner of your whatsapp screen. When I tap, I’m chatting with Meta AI, a brand new virtual assistant who suddenly sneaks into the app without much introduction.
It is designed to be useful. Ask questions and get the answer. Do you even need recommendations, quick facts, AI-generated images? Magically, it’s all there. But here’s it: many people don’t want it.
WhatsApp Meta AI: New Features You Didn’t Want
This feature unfolded almost silently and appeared in people’s chats like another contact. There is no actual announcement or a clear way to turn it off. And that’s part of what bothers users.
Some have raised privacy concerns. No one really knows what data meta AI is collecting, how it is being used. And while Meta says it’s safe, many users aren’t sure. After all, this is not an ambiguous app. It’s WhatsApp, where people share everything from family renewals to bank relocation.
Others are simply irritated. Maybe they don’t need a chatbot in their lives, or they just don’t want to see it messy their chat list. And there are people who think a little bigger. About the impact AI is already having on the world around us.
It’s not just privacy. It’s about power too. literally. Running AI requires a huge amount of energy. Elon Musk recently warned that power could become one of the biggest limitations of AI development. Do you just generate one AI image? This can use as much energy as half the phone bill. And now we play millions of users with AI on WhatsApp every day.
How to remove meta AI from WhatsApp (even if it cannot be completely disabled)
If you’re wondering if you can turn it off, the short answer is no. At least it’s not perfect. Meta does not offer an official option to remove it completely from the app.
That said, you can still remove it from your chat list. Open a conversation with Meta AI, tap the three dots in the top right corner, and press Delete Chat. It removes it – for now. However, if you search for Meta AI or tap on the blue circle again it will pop out immediately.
It’s not a big deal for some people. But for others, it’s a reminder that Big Tech can quietly slide new tools into the apps they use every day. There is no explanation or consent.
And while AI may be the future, not everyone wants to see it from the corner of the screen.
