WhatsApp for Android is reportedly getting a new feature for its in-app artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot Meta AI soon. According to a WhatsApp feature tracker, the instant messaging platform is working on adding a voice mode to Meta AI that will allow users to have a two-way conversation with the chatbot. The AI ​​will reportedly use its conversational voice capabilities to understand and respond to user queries. Notably, the feature was first reported last month, but now the UI for the feature has also been revealed.
According to a after According to WhatsApp feature tracker WABetaInfo, the Meta AI voice mode feature was spotted in WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.24.18.18. The feature is currently not visible in the beta version of the app, so those who have opted in to the Google beta program will not be able to see it.
WhatsApp Meta AI voice mode interface
Photo credit: WABetaInfo
In a screenshot shared by the feature tracker, the Meta AI Voice Mode interface is visible. The Meta AI button, placed above the New Chat icon, can be long-pressed to activate the voice mode, as shown in the screenshot. In another instance, the hands-free mode was also activated by tapping on a waveform icon placed next to the text field in the Meta AI chat.
Users may be able to tap the waveform icon to activate the feature. A third screenshot highlighted a bottom sheet with Meta AI written on it and a circular aura icon that presumably indicated speech mode. Below that were icons for speaker, mute, and an icon for disconnecting speech mode.
An earlier report had highlighted that the feature will also be available with ten different voices. While the differences between different voices are unclear, it could offer different accents, tonalities and genders. It is not known if multiple languages ​​will be supported.
While both OpenAI and Google offer a two-way communication feature with ChatGPT Voice Mode and Gemini Live respectively, these features are only available to the platform’s paying subscribers. If WhatsApp rolls out the hands-free feature, it could become the first company to offer the feature for free.
