It’s the go-to messaging app for more than two billion users around the world. 

And if you have WhatsApp, you may have noticed a subtle change this week.

The Meta-owned app has quietly added a blue circle icon in the bottom-right corner of your chats. 

This icon is a shortcut to Meta AI – the tech giant’s artificial intelligence-powered chatbot. 

‘Meta AI via WhatsApp is an elective feature provided by Meta to address inquiries, impart knowledge, or foster innovative thinking,’ as explained by Meta.

While the tool has been available in the US for some time, it recently started arriving in the UK – and many users are unhappy about it. 

‘Okay, how do I get rid of Meta AI in WhatsApp? The button is constantly hovering in the way and I will never ever use it,’ one vented. 

Another joked: ‘Can you remove that AI button from WhatsApp please before I throw my phone into the [Manchester] Ship Canal.’

It’s the go-to messaging app for more than two billion people around the world. And if you use WhatsApp, you may have noticed a subtle change in the app this week

The Meta-owned app has quietly added a new blue circle icon in the bottom-right corner of your chats. This icon is a shortcut to Meta AI – the tech giant’s artificial intelligence-powered chatbot

While the tool has been available in the US for some time, it recently started arriving in the UK – and many users are unhappy about it

The Meta AI button can be found in the bottom right of your chats, and is described by Meta as an ‘assistant that people can engage with throughout their daily lives to enhance social experiences and unlock new possibilities’.

‘Whether you need to settle a debate in a group chat, or have a burning question you want answering on the side, you can now use Meta AI as your very own assistant,’ Meta explained. 

‘Start a chat with Meta AI directly for recipe suggestions by listing the contents of your fridge, or ask Meta AI for restaurant recommendations in a group chat for all to see the response.’

Unfortunately, its addition hasn’t gone down well with users. 

‘God I f***ing hate AI, now my WhatsApp has this f***ing AI button I cant remove, I hate it, I hate it, I HATE IT,’ one user tweeted. 

Another wrote: ‘Hey WhatsApp I do not want the Meta AI button on my WhatsApp! It’s in the way. I’ll never use it. 

‘In fact, I’m more likely to switch from WhatsApp to another social messenger app before I ever use it. At least give users an option to disable it and get it off the screen.’

And one joked: ‘Massive “ask AI” button WhatsApp omg just leave me alone man. Bro I use WhatsApp to message work like in what world do I need AI for it STOP FORCING AI ON MEEE.’ 

The Meta AI button can be found in the bottom right of your chats, and is described by Meta as an ‘assistant that people can engage with throughout their daily lives to enhance social experiences and unlock new possibilities’. Unfortunately, its addition hasn’t gone down well with users

One frustrated user vents on X

Another wrote: ‘Hey WhatsApp I do not want the Meta AI button on my WhatsApp’

One was so exasperated that they threatened to delete their WhatsApp to get rid of the button

Some WhatsApp users even tried to ask the AI bot how to remove the button. 

Confusingly, the AI bot advised them to disable Meta AI within the app’s settings – an option that doesn’t actually exist. 

‘The AI feature in WhatsApp hallucinated about how to remove it and told me to change a setting that doesn’t exist,’ one user tweeted, alongside a screenshot of the interaction. 

The fact that there’s no option to remove the AI bot has also raised alarm bells about privacy for some users. 

‘Is this some creepy spyware?’ one user asked, while another said: ‘I do not like AIs spying on my private conversations!’

Thankfully, WhatsApp has reassured that your private conversations are safe. 

‘Meta AI can only read messages you share with it,’ it explained. 

‘Your personal messages remain end-to-end encrypted, meaning no one outside of the chat, not even WhatsApp, can read, listen to, or share them.’

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