WhatsApp users can soon create custom AI chatbots

WhatsApp is expanding Meta‘s AI ambitions by introducing AI Studio directly within the messaging app, enabling users to create personalized AI assistants without technical expertise. This integration represents a significant extension of Meta’s AI strategy, allowing WhatsApp’s massive user base to develop custom AI tools through an intuitive, guided process—potentially democratizing AI assistant creation in a way that could reach billions of users worldwide.

The big picture: WhatsApp is rolling out an in-app AI Studio to a limited number of beta testers on iOS and Android, bringing Meta’s custom AI assistant creation tools directly to the messaging platform.

• The feature introduces a dedicated “AI Studio” section that walks users through creating personalized AI assistants without requiring technical knowledge.
• Previously, users needed to use Meta AI Studio on the web, Messenger, or Instagram to create custom AI assistants, making this WhatsApp integration a significant expansion of Meta’s AI ecosystem.

How it works: The creation process guides users through a structured flow to develop AI assistants tailored to specific roles and personalities.

• Users first select a role for their AI, ranging from study coach to travel assistant or motivational companion.
• They then choose personality traits and conversational styles, such as “calm and thoughtful,” “energetic and funny,” or “professional and informative.”
• WhatsApp provides smart suggestions to help shape the AI’s behavior and conversational patterns based on these selections.

Privacy considerations: Custom chatbots will be private by default, with optional sharing capabilities similar to competitors’ offerings.

• Users will have the option to share their creations via unique links, mirroring approaches used by OpenAI and Google.
• This sharing functionality could potentially create a community of user-generated AI assistants, similar to what OpenAI attempted with its GPT Store.

What’s next: The feature is still in development but appears to be moving toward a broader release.

• The presence of related code in recent beta versions suggests the feature is advancing toward public launch.
• This addition follows WhatsApp’s recent introduction of an official iPad app and username testing, indicating an accelerated feature development pace.