Meet WhatsApp’s Awesome AI chatbot, powered by Meta and Bing

What is the chatbot on WhatsApp?

One of the latest developments is the new AI chatbot that is now available on WhatsApp for more users. Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the way we use our devices and apps. From Android to Windows, from Copilot to Bard, AI is enhancing our user experience and productivity. Meta, the company formerly known as Facebook, is also embracing AI and bringing it to its popular platforms, such as Facebook, Messenger, and WhatsApp.

How Meta developed the AI chatbot

Meta announced its AI chatbot project in September this year, aiming to provide a conversational assistant for its users. It was inspired by OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google Bard, two of the most advanced natural language models in the world. Meta used its own Llama 2 large language model to power the chatbot, which can generate fluent and realistic responses.

It’s also leveraged Microsoft Bing as a web search engine, to find relevant information for the user queries. It could handle any question, as well as offer some unique features for each platform, such as AI-generated visual effects for photos on Instagram. However, it was initially limited to a small group of testers.

How to access the chatbot on WhatsApp

After several months of beta testing and improvement, Meta has started to roll out the AI chatbot to a wider audience on WhatsApp. WABetaInfo, a reliable source of WhatsApp news, spotted a new shortcut to access it on the app. The shortcut is a floating action button (FAB) that appears above the new message FAB in the Chats tab on WhatsApp.

The shortcut has a multicolor circle in a pale gray button, and it allows the user to start a chat with the AI chatbot easily. The shortcut also helps the user discover the new feature, as it is clearly visible on the screen.

WABetaInfo reported that the AI chatbot shortcut is compatible with WhatsApp beta version 2.23.24.26, but some users may see it on the older version 2.23.24.23 as well. The former is currently available on the Play Store, which suggests that it is getting closer to a stable release. WhatsApp has also introduced other important features recently, such as the integration with DocuSign to enable digital signatures, and the voice chats for larger groups to avoid disturbing voice calls.

What features does the chatbot offer?

The AI chatbot is a new and exciting feature that can make WhatsApp more useful and fun. Users can chat with it and ask it anything, or try some of the platform-specific features that it offers. It is powered by Meta’s Llama 2 and Microsoft Bing, which ensure high-quality and accurate responses.

It is now easier to access with the new shortcut on the app, and it is expected to reach more users soon. If you want to chat with Meta’s new assistant on WhatsApp, you can look for the new shortcut on the Chats tab, or update your app to the latest beta version.

When will the chatbot be available for everyone?

The AI chatbot is currently available on WhatsApp for some beta testers, but it is unclear when it will be available to everyone. Meta announced the AI chatbot project in September 2023, and it has since improved and expanded its features and capabilities. Some sources claim that the AI chatbot will be released in 2025 or later, but Meta has not confirmed this.