Meta AI chatbot: WhatsApp now lets you use it directly in-app

The Meta AI chatbot, an innovative feature within WhatsApp, is now more broadly accessible, although activation is required initially. This tutorial will detail the steps to enable Meta AI in WhatsApp and explore its capabilities, such as chatting or creating images.

It was September 2023 when the tech giant first rolled out Meta AI on WhatsApp but this chatbot integration is a new step forward.

Since the previous year, Meta has been promoting the Meta AI capabilities across its various applications, including an announcement from WhatsApp about the introduction of AI-generated stickers for users in selected areas.

Meta AI operates within Facebook Messenger. This technology is built on the Llama 2 model and, as stated by Meta, collaborates with Bing as its search engine partner. This collaboration positions Meta AI alongside the performance capabilities of Microsoft’s Bing AI engine.

The Meta AI has recently become available within the WhatsApp messaging app, providing a user experience comparable to interacting with other chatbots. The key distinction is the convenience of accessing it directly through WhatsApp, an app many users frequently engage with. Communicating with Meta AI is as straightforward as conversing with another person.

How to enable Meta AI chatbot in WhatsApp?

Before engaging with Meta AI or requesting it to generate images, it must be activated within the WhatsApp application. Here are the steps to turn on Meta AI:

• Tap the newly introduced Meta AI icon located at the bottom right of your screen.
• Read and accept Meta’s terms and conditions by selecting the “Accept” button.
• Begin your interaction with the chatbot.

After agreeing to Meta’s terms, Meta AI becomes accessible like any typical chat within WhatsApp. You will find it listed among your other conversations, and you can open it by tapping the new icon positioned above the “new chat” button.

This technology is built on the Llama 2 model and, as stated by Meta, collaborates with Bing as its search engine partner (Image credit)

It’s important to recognize that while Meta AI functions similarly to other chatbots, it may not provide the same level of flexibility. For example, other platforms like ChatGPT allow users to disable data sharing. Although AI models generally collect data from interactions to enhance their performance, some, including ChatGPT, offer the option to disable this data collection.

How to start chatting with Meta AI?

If you’re already experienced with AI chatbots like Google Gemini or ChatGPT, you’ll find Meta AI on WhatsApp messenger quite intuitive. This chatbot allows you to ask a wide range of questions, from seeking local restaurant recommendations to posing complex, playful queries, as long as the responses are considered appropriate by the model.

To create an image with Meta AI, you need to utilize a specific command. By typing /imagine [image prompt], you instruct Meta AI to generate an image. The system itself limits you to 25 image creations per day. While it’s unlikely you’ll reach this limit regularly after the initial testing phase, it’s worth noting that Meta AI’s image generation process is notably quick, though accuracy can vary, much like other models. Nonetheless, experimenting with this feature can be quite entertaining.

WhatsApp-integrated Meta AI chatbot is now available in the US and India (Image credit)

Meta AI’s rollout in WhatsApp is becoming increasingly widespread, now appearing to be in a stable version for users in both the US and India, with potentially more regions to follow. Importantly, this feature is offered at no cost, adding value without requiring financial investment.

Featured image credit: