AI on WhatsApp: A game changer or privacy concern?

As technology companies continue to advance rapidly in AI-based technology, they are transforming the daily operations of human work.

In a significant development, billions of WhatsApp users recently received a complimentary AI chat-based upgrade on their smartphones. This upgrade was rolled out following Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, introducing its own AI chatbot, Meta AI, in September 2023.

The Meta AI chatbot on WhatsApp functions similarly to other AI-based software and applications that people globally have become accustomed to, such as ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini, Brain Assistant, Google Bud, and Microsoft Binge. This integration into WhatsApp marks a pivotal step in making sophisticated AI technology accessible to a vast user base, enhancing their everyday communication and productivity tools.

According to Mark Zuckerberg, the head of Meta, as quoted on the Business Today website, “We are rolling out this new version, which we believe is now the most intelligent AI that everyone can freely use. We are integrating Google and Bing to give it real-time knowledge. We are integrating it across Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram messengers, right into the search box at the top. So, whenever you have a question, you can just type it into the apps. We are rolling out a bunch of unique creation features that are cool. Meta AI can animate any image for you. But one of the most astonishing aspects is that it now generates high-quality images so quickly that as you type, it creates and updates them in real time.”

According to IBM, artificial intelligence (AI) is defined as technology that enables computers and machines to simulate human intelligence and problem-solving capabilities.

The Meta AI chatbot features include being conversational, where the Meta AI chatbot can understand and respond to prompts provided by a user. The conversational features of Meta AI involve the use of Natural Language Processing (NLP) and machine learning processes.

Unlike the free version of ChatGPT 3.5, which is limited to updating information from the internet up to the year 2022, the Meta AI chatbot on WhatsApp has access to current, up-to-date information about events happening around the world, thanks to its access to search engines like Google and Bing. It can also provide information based on news articles and social media posts.

The chatbot can translate popular languages such as Chinese, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, and Russian. Similar to ChatGPT, the Meta AI chatbot on WhatsApp can generate text when the user inputs the correct prompts and can also summarize given text. Additionally, the chatbot can generate images within seconds based on the accuracy of the prompts the user inputs.

WhatsApp Users Comment

When this writer interviewed several WhatsApp users, they shared their opinions on the integration of AI into the app. Michael Ainomugisha sees the addition of AI on WhatsApp as a win-win situation.

“There is no need to download an artificial intelligence-based application from the Play Store, since artificial intelligence is now readily available on the apps I use like WhatsApp,” he noted. However, he also expressed concerns: “The introduction of artificial intelligence on apps like WhatsApp is problematic because you cannot be sure of the authenticity of the conversations you have. This could lead to doubt, as people might think most conversations are based on AI-generated texts,” Michael added.

Cassius Itabaniza commented on the functionality of the Meta AI chatbot on WhatsApp, noting its reliance on information from sources like Microsoft Edge.

“It’s a good basic AI that can generate images based on one’s imagination,” Itabaniza asserted.

Joshua Okello, a student from Uganda Christian University, shared his experience using the Meta AI chatbot on WhatsApp.

“The Meta AI chatbot, which is powered by Lama 3, can only perform basic tasks like creating images, explaining text, and giving news updates based on website sources,” he explained. Okello highlighted that unlike ChatGPT 4, which has access to plugins for data analysis, the Meta AI chatbot lacks such capabilities, restricting it to more basic AI functions.

Okello also mentioned the limitations in generating images with notable figures. “I tried to generate an image of Putin and Elon Musk having a local brew in an African setting, but the chatbot failed to generate the image.”

As AI technology becomes a more integral part of daily life, it’s crucial for governments to enact legislation that controls the use of artificial intelligence, ensuring that people can coexist and adapt to a world where AI is increasingly prevalent in our day-to-day lives.