WhatsApp is rolling out a new AI-powered feature called "Message Summaries" designed to condense long chat threads into easily digestible summaries, saving users valuable time. This feature leverages Meta AI to quickly summarize unread messages, providing an overview of the conversation without requiring users to read every single message.

The Message Summaries feature is currently being rolled out in English to users in the United States, with plans to expand to other regions and languages later in the year. It is optional and disabled by default, putting users in control of their experience. Users can also utilize the "Advanced Chat Privacy" settings to choose which chats can be shared for AI-related features.

Meta AI's Private Processing technology powers the feature, ensuring user privacy. Private Processing enables Meta AI to generate summaries without Meta or WhatsApp ever seeing the messages or the summaries themselves. This technology processes AI requests within a secure environment called the confidential virtual machine (CVM) on the cloud, establishing a secure application session between a user's device and the Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) over an Oblivious HTTP (OHTTP) connection. WhatsApp emphasizes that no one else in the chat can see that a user has summarized unread messages, further protecting user privacy.

To use the feature, users can simply tap the unread messages button within a chat, prompting Meta AI to generate a bulleted summary of the missed content. This allows users to quickly grasp the main points of the conversation, especially helpful when catching up after a period of absence or when dealing with numerous active chats.

The introduction of Message Summaries comes at a time when WhatsApp faces increased scrutiny regarding data privacy and security. Recently, the U.S. House of Representatives added WhatsApp to a list of apps banned from government-issued devices due to security concerns. WhatsApp aims to address these concerns with Private Processing, emphasizing that the technology prevents third parties, including Meta and WhatsApp, from accessing the actual message contents to generate summaries.

While the feature aims to enhance user experience, some critics express concerns about potential privacy implications and the accuracy of AI-generated summaries. Some worry that having an AI system scan and interpret private chats, even with privacy safeguards, could be unsettling.

Despite these concerns, WhatsApp maintains that users are in control of their experience and that Message Summaries is designed with privacy as a top priority. The feature is optional and users can choose whether or not to use it. The company hopes that Message Summaries will provide a valuable tool for users to stay informed and connected without sacrificing their time or privacy.