WhatsApp’s New Meta AI Widget Lets Users Chat Without Opening the App

WhatsApp, the widely used messaging platform with billions of users, is integrating AI more seamlessly into the user experience. Developers are currently testing a new Meta AI widget that will allow users to interact with the AI directly from their home screens—eliminating the need to launch the app.

The experimental feature was first spotted by WABetaInfo a few months ago and is now being rolled out to a limited number of beta users on the latest WhatsApp version. The Meta AI widget not only offers quick access to AI-powered conversations but also allows users to upload images directly from the home screen and acts as a shortcut to the AI chatbot’s voice mode.

A recent preview of the feature shows that the widget is adjustable and resizable, making it more adaptable to different user preferences. However, only users who already have access to Meta AI within WhatsApp will be able to use the widget.

Powered by Meta’s Llama large language model , the AI chatbot in WhatsApp functions similarly to ChatGPT and Gemini, offering text-based responses, image generation, and integration into group chats. With millions of users already engaging with Meta AI in WhatsApp, this new homescreen widget is expected to further boost the chatbot’s popularity.

Since Meta is rolling out this update gradually, not all WhatsApp users will see the feature immediately. WhatsApp has also introduced several new features in recent weeks, including 22 preset chat themes, tap reactions, selfie stickers, and shareable sticker packs—enhancing the overall messaging experience.