WhatsApp Introduces AI-Powered Writing Help Feature for Smarter Conversations

On August 27, WhatsApp rolled out a new artificial intelligence feature called Writing Help, designed to make everyday messaging smoother and more effective. This addition empowers users to refine their messages before sending, offering tools to correct grammar, improve phrasing, and even adjust tone. By integrating AI within its platform, WhatsApp aims to enhance communication while ensuring privacy remains intact.

What is Writing Help

Writing Help is an in-app AI feature that allows users to rewrite, edit, or modify the tone of their text. Instead of drafting a message and relying on third-party applications for grammar or tone adjustments, WhatsApp now provides built-in assistance. The feature is accessible through a small pencil icon that appears while typing a message, making it seamless and easy to use.

Privacy at the Core

A major concern with AI-driven tools is the question of privacy. To address this, WhatsApp uses Meta’s Private Processing technology, which ensures that neither Meta nor WhatsApp can view the original text or AI-generated suggestions. All interactions are encrypted, routed anonymously, and cannot be traced back to the user. This means that conversations remain private, even when AI assistance is used.

How the Feature Works

When composing a message, users will see a pencil symbol in place of the sticker icon once a few words are typed. Tapping this activates Writing Help, enabling users to receive suggestions. The AI can rephrase messages to sound professional, polite, humorous, or encouraging, depending on the tone the user prefers. Importantly, WhatsApp highlights that the feature works only on the selected message and does not apply to the entire chat history.

Examples of Tone Adjustments

To illustrate its potential, WhatsApp showcased a playful example. The original user message read: “Please don’t leave dirty socks on the sofa.” Writing Help then offered humorous alternatives, such as “Breaking news: Socks found chilling on the couch” and “Please don’t turn the sofa into a sock graveyard.” Such variations allow users to tailor their messages creatively and more engagingly.

Competing with External Tools

With the launch of Writing Help, WhatsApp is positioning itself as a direct competitor to external AI platforms like ChatGPT. Instead of switching between apps to refine a message, users can now rely on in-app technology. This integration streamlines the communication process and may gradually reduce dependency on third-party AI writing assistants.

Optional and User-Controlled

Another key aspect of Writing Help is that it is optional and disabled by default. Users need to manually activate the tool when drafting messages, and AI suggestions only appear if the user chooses to engage with them. WhatsApp clarifies that AI-generated texts are never sent automatically, ensuring users maintain full control over their communication.

Benefits of Writing Help

The feature offers multiple advantages for users:

• Correcting grammar and sentence structure.
• Improving clarity and readability of messages.
• Adjusting tone to suit professional, casual, or humorous contexts.
• Saving time by providing ready-to-use alternatives.
• Keeping communication polished without compromising privacy.

Limitations and Future Potential

Currently, Writing Help functions only on individual messages and cannot analyse entire conversations for tone consistency. While this ensures tighter privacy controls, it may limit broader usability for professional or extended dialogues. However, as the technology evolves, WhatsApp may expand its capabilities further, offering more personalised and context-aware suggestions.