WhatsApp, the most popular instant messaging app, is allegedly beta-testing a feature that will let users make stickers with the help of AI technology.
Users would be able to make stickers by typing in a prompt, so they wouldn’t have to use the unique ones. At the moment, only a small number of users can use this tool.
The AI stickers are being tested through a Google Play beta programme. This was revealed by WABetaInfo, a site that looks for unreleased WhatsApp updates. This is what has always been done before changes to the app were made available to everyone.
In the next few weeks, more people should be able to use it. No one knows yet when it will be available to iOS users.
Read also: WhatsApp Screen Sharing Features: a guide
WaBetaInfo says that beta testers probably have a “Create” button that pops up when they start the sticker keyboard. Before the AI makes the sticker, the user has to tell it what it is. For example, if the prompt “dog DJing at a party” is entered, the system will give a couple of results that fit that description.
WhatsApp’s sticker integration is unusual, even though Open AI has employed AI for image production for months. It creates a new use case for creative AI. Many people who use WhatsApp will probably customize their stickers.
The sticker technology comes from Meta, which owns WhatsApp. Concerns about AI include keeping data private and preventing it from being used for bad purposes.
The technology used to make the stickers is safe, according to WABetaInfo. It also said that users would always be able to decide what stickers to use. So, they are told to tell Meta about stickers that aren’t proper or are harmful. Also, steps are being taken to make sure that the AI stickers are easy to recognise.
WhatsApp is improving instant messaging.
In terms of product changes, WhatsApp has been on a roll lately. It joined the video conferencing market last week when it started beta-testing a screen-sharing tool for its video call service. Even though the market is controlled by big names like Microsoft’s Teams and Google’s Meet, the Meta-owned app doesn’t care.
It was started three weeks ago that people could send short videos in chats. A few security-related features were put in place about four months ago. WhatsApp hasn’t really slowed down in its efforts to grow by adding new features.
Its AI stickers feature could be a hit or a miss based on how it deals with AI worries. Even though it has explained how it plans to deal with incorrect stickers, it is likely that some users will find a way around it. So, it needs to find more ways to make sure that only nice stickers can be made by people.