WhatsApp first dabble into AI is getting its first field test.
The company behind the popular secure messaging app is reportedly having its first beta test for its new stickers that users can create via AI.
WhatsApp AI-generated stickers are only one of the most recent features the company developing and testing behind the scenes.
AI Tools in WhatsApp
Stickers are some WhatsApp users' way to liven up conversation and properly convey their feelings - something normal text messages can't do. However, WhatsApp's stickers are insufficient at doing what they're designed to do sometimes; emotions are not easy to convey with clear-cut stickers.
Thankfully, WhatsApp has a solution for that. According to a report from WABetaInfo, its 2.23.17.14 update for WhatsApp beta for Android lets bets tester try out its AI-generated stickers, allowing them to create their own stickers using generative AI.
Beta testers who sign up to try the new feature will find that WhatsApp added a new "create" button when accessing the sticker tab. Selecting it will make the feature display a prompt asking the tester for a description of the sticker they want to create.
Once the tester describes the sticker they want to create, WhatsApp will present a set of stickers its AI generated based on that description. These stickers are available for the user to send to people in a conversation.
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Beta testers and WhatsApp users in the future can rest assured about the security of the descriptions they give to WhatsApp's AI-based feature. WhatsApp AI stickers are allegedly generated using a secure technology Meta offers, though it is unclear which generative AI model WhatsApp used for this feature, per Android Police.
If one of the stickers WhatsApp's AI-generated is inappropriate or harmful, users can report it to Meta to possibly train its AI better. For those curious as to what these AI-generated stickers look like, The Verge reports that users can personalize them as much as they want and share them with their WhatsApp contacts.
Whether that means the stickers they create are saved on users' devices is still unknown. Regardless, the feature is bound to enhance the overall messaging experience and make conversations definitely more engaging.
Upcoming WhatsApp Features
WhatsApp's AI-generated stickers are only one of the features it is developing and testing. You may recall it is developing a passkey login/sign-in method to WhatsApp, giving users a more secure method to log into their accounts.
The company is also working on a new feature that allows voice chat communication between groups, allowing up to 32 participants from separate groups to talk to each other through the app. The company also released a redesigned sticker and GIF picker for iOS devices - a feature it previously worked on that got a public release in early July.
The feature allows users to search for their favorite stickers and GIF reactions more easily than before.
Related Article: WhatsApp Users Could Soon Use Passkeys To Log Into the App
