WhatsApp tests on-device AI Writing Help for iPhone via TestFlight

WhatsApp is testing an AI-powered writing assistant for iPhone users through a TestFlight beta, offering an opt-in feature that processes the current message draft on the device and provides multiple tone-adjusted rewrite options. The tool, called Writing Help, appears in the chat input area when a user types, with the sticker icon in the chat bar replaced by a pen symbol to indicate the AI assistant is available. Users can tap the pen to receive at least three alternative phrasings, selected from five tone options, and then choose to send the original or one of the suggested revisions. Recipients are not alerted to the use of AI in composing the message, and the feature is designed to respect user privacy by operating primarily on-device.

Key operational details emphasize privacy and user control. The Writing Help feature runs on Meta’s Private Processing framework, the same architecture used for other Meta AI tools. Messages are processed anonymously and encrypted, and the AI analyzes only the text in the current draft rather than the broader chat history. The assistant is disabled by default and must be manually enabled by the user within WhatsApp’s settings. Only after a...