WhatsApp says that a new AI blue circle in its app that cannot be removed or hidden is “optional”, and users do not need to use it.

The blue circle has appeared in the iPhone and Android versions of WhatsApp, directly above the button users use to chat, summons an AI chatbot which interacts with users.

The new feature cannot be disabled within the menus on WhatsApp, sparking the ire of some users who do not want to interact with the new bot.

WhatsApp defended the rollout of the feature, saying it was “entirely optional” for people to use. “We regularly add new features to WhatsApp – just this year we have announced Music on Status, new chat themes, new camera effects and stickers,” WhatsApp told Yahoo News in a statement.

“All these features, like Meta AI are entirely optional, and people can choose to use them or not. We think giving people these options is a good thing and we’re always listening to feedback from our users.”

The AI bot appears as a blue circle.

The AI bot appears as a blue/green/pink circle.

The Meta AI service takes the form of a chatbot which users can chat with in the same way as a normal WhatsApp conversation.

It appears as a blue circle above the icon used to start chats in the WhatsApp phone app.

Using a Large Language Model, similar to those used by ChatGPT and other services, it answers questions and chats with users.

The feature is only available in some countries, and is not available to all users in every country.

WhatsApp says it can be used for everything from settling a debate in a group chat to getting recipe suggestions.

As with all AI-generated content, there is no guarantee that what the AI chat responds with is accurate information.

How does it work?

The Meta AI chatbot works exactly like normal WhatsApp chats – you type a message and it responds within that chat.

You can also forward messages from other WhatsApp chats to try and learn more about something that people are discussing.

You can also tag Meta AI (by using @meta AI) within other chats to get an answer from the bot.

Meta promises the chatbot will soon be able to create images, although this feature is not currently active.

Meta said: “Meta provides the generative AI technology that powers AI experiences available through WhatsApp. Messages from Meta AI are generated by artificial intelligence (AI), using a service from Meta, in response to the prompts and messages you send to the AI.”

What data does it collect?

Meta says that the AI can only read messages directly shared with it and has no access to data from your other chats.

The data from chats with the chatbot is not used to train AI, Meta promised.

Users can also delete chats with the AI and ‘request’ the deletion of information previously shared with the AI system.

“When you choose to use these features, Meta receives your prompts, the messages you share, and feedback to deliver relevant responses directly to you and to improve its AI quality,” Meta said. “Only messages that mention @Meta AI, or that people choose to share with Meta AI, can be read by Meta. Meta can’t read any other messages in your personal chats.”

Meta notes that because other personal messages are protected by end-to-end encryption, meaning that only the devices the messages are sent to and from can see them, the AI can’t read other messages.

“Not even WhatsApp or Meta can read, listen to, or share them,” Meta said.

Why can’t you turn it off?

Meta claims that the feature is optional, in that users can simply opt not to use it, but the prominent button cannot be disabled or removed.

Joshua Breckman, a communications director at WhatsApp, said: “You need to take an action to chat to or invoke Meta AI (it’s not ‘on’ until you choose to use it).

“Personal messages with friends and family are end-to-end encrypted – no change there. We make any chat with AI really visually distinct, so it’s clear they’re different to personal chats.

“If you do talk to Meta AI, it doesn’t link your personal WhatsApp account information on Facebook, Instagram, or any other apps provided by Meta.”

“Always remember not to message Meta AI with information you don’t want it to know.”

But while the blue circle cannot be disabled, a new feature called Advanced Chat Privacy will allow users to stop their information from being shared with Meta AI from other chats.

This feature does not appear to be available in the UK as yet (or at least not on the Android device Yahoo News UK tested it with), but WhatsApp promises it will be rolled out “soon”.

“Advanced Chat Privacy is a new setting available in both chats and groups that helps prevent others from taking content outside of WhatsApp for when you may want extra privacy,” Meta said.

“When the setting is on, you can block others from exporting chats, auto-downloading media to their phone, and using messages for AI features. That way everyone in the chat has greater confidence that no one can take what is being said outside the chat.”