Meta Takes OpenAI Path, Adds Voice Mode To Let Users Chat With AI On WhatsApp: Here's How It Works

Meta AI will soon be introducing celebrity voices, including those of Awkwafina, Dame Judi Dench, John Cena, Keegan Michael Key, and Kristen Bell, adding a fun twist to voice chats.

Meta seems to have taken a leaf out of OpenAI's ChatGPT playbook. The Mark Zuckerberg-owned social media giant unveiled a series of cutting-edge, AI-driven features for WhatsApp, to enhance how users interact with the app. These updates, announced at the Meta Connect event on Thursday, allow WhatsApp users to hold real-time conversations with Meta AI, share and edit photos, and receive smarter, more intuitive responses.

Meta claims these updates will provide users with new ways to express creativity, improve communication, and explore novel ideas.

How Does Meta AI Voice Mode Work?

Among the key innovations is the introduction of Meta AI’s voice mode, a feature that lets users have real-time spoken conversations with the AI chatbot. The feature had been previously available in beta testing but is now rolled out more widely to users.

This voice mode allows users to engage the AI directly by pressing a waveform button, making their interactions more dynamic and seamless.

This is comparable to the voice interaction capabilities available on ChatGPT, but Meta is taking it a step further by soon introducing celebrity voices, including those of Awkwafina, Dame Judi Dench, John Cena, Keegan Michael Key, and Kristen Bell, adding a fun twist to user engagement.

Analyse Images

Another exciting new feature is image analysis. With this tool, users can send images to Meta AI and ask for detailed information about them. For example, users might send a photo of a dish and request instructions on how to prepare it. The AI can analyse the image and provide relevant, step-by-step information based on what it sees. This opens up possibilities for more interactive, visual conversations on the platform.

Perhaps one of the most anticipated features is Meta AI’s new photo-editing capabilities. Unlike traditional AI chatbots, Meta AI on WhatsApp can now make real-time adjustments to photos shared by users. For instance, it can remove unwanted people from an image, alter backgrounds, or change the color of objects. This allows users to quickly and easily enhance their photos without needing to rely on third-party apps or professional editing tools.

These features are part of Meta's broader strategy to integrate advanced AI technologies across its platforms, making everyday interactions more personalised, creative, and efficient. As Meta AI continues to evolve, WhatsApp users can expect even more features and improvements in the future, signaling a shift in how we engage with messaging apps in the age of AI.