WhatsApp users will soon have access to a new privacy-focused feature for artificial intelligence conversations, as Meta announced Wednesday the rollout of “Incognito Chat” functionality.
The social media giant revealed that this new capability will utilize specialized private processing technology to keep AI conversations completely confidential, preventing even Meta from accessing the discussions.
“Your conversations are not saved and by default, your messages disappear — giving you a space to think and explore ideas without anyone watching,” the company explained in their announcement.
This development addresses mounting privacy worries as individuals increasingly turn to AI assistants for guidance on personal matters including finances, health issues, and workplace situations.
WhatsApp’s leader Will Cathcart explained the reasoning behind the feature during a media presentation: “We’re starting to ask a lot of meaningful questions about our lives with AI systems. It doesn’t always feel like you should have to share the information behind those questions with the companies that run those AI systems.”
While Meta typically uses interactions with its AI assistant to enhance its artificial intelligence capabilities, the company clarifies that standard WhatsApp personal messages already receive end-to-end encryption protection and aren’t accessed for training purposes.
Currently, the incognito feature will only support text-based conversations, with image sharing capabilities not available, according to Cathcart.
He also noted that safety measures will be integrated into the AI system, allowing it to decline inappropriate requests and redirect problematic conversations.
Looking ahead, Meta plans to introduce an additional feature called “Side Chat” in upcoming months, which will provide users with private AI assistance during any WhatsApp conversation.
