WhatsApp beta for Android 2.25.18.18: what's new?

WhatsApp has released a new Android update through the Google Play Beta Program, bringing the version up to 2.25.18.18.
What's new in this update? WhatsApp is rolling out an AI-powered feature to privately summarize messages in chats and groups, and it's available to some beta testers!

In the article about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.25.15.12 update, we announced that a feature to privately summarize messages was under development. This feature will allow users to quickly catch up on unread messages in busy chats and groups by generating a concise summary using Meta AI. It's designed to work seamlessly without compromising privacy or security, ensuring that even as users benefit from AI assistance, their personal messages remain entirely private and protected. It appears that WhatsApp is now testing this feature with the public, as some beta testers have reported the possibility to get a summary of their messages. Following the release of the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.25.18.18 update, which is available on the Google Play Store, we discovered that WhatsApp is rolling out an AI-powered feature to privately summarize messages in chats and groups!

As you can see from the attached screenshot, some beta testers can enable Private Processing from the app settings, allowing them to privately generate concise overviews of their unread messages. Once Private Processing is enabled, a dedicated button to summarize messages will appear when users receive a certain number of new incoming messages in their conversations. To get a summary, users just need to tap the button showing their unread messages. A private request is sent to the Private Processing system, which securely returns a summary without storing any message data or leaving a trace.

Message summaries are generated using Meta AI but processed securely through Private Processing, a system designed to protect user privacy at every step. Private Processing ensures that none of the message content leaves the protected environment, and no one outside the user's device, including WhatsApp or Meta, can access or read the data being processed. The user's requests remain anonymous and unlinkable to their identity through secure private routing and encrypted connections.

Users can trust that their message content remains confidential through this robust privacy framework, while still benefiting from AI-generated summaries that clearly highlight the key points of their unread messages. The feature works across individual conversations and group chats, providing a consistent experience no matter the conversation type. This makes it easier for users to stay up to date without having to scroll through every individual message, especially in highly active group chats, without compromising their privacy.

It's important to note that this feature is entirely optional. Users who prefer not to use message summaries can simply avoid tapping the "XX unread messages" button or disable the feature in the app settings under the Private Processing section. In addition, the ability to summarize messages is disabled in conversations where Advanced Chat Privacy is enabled. The reason is not related to the privacy ensured by Private Processing, as message summaries remain fully secure through this architecture, but rather to respect users' choice to opt out of all AI-powered features in those chats, regardless of the privacy protections in place.

It's worth mentioning that message summaries appear to be the first feature powered by Private Processing to begin rolling out. There are also signs that Writing Help may be another upcoming feature, which would allow users to improve their messages before sending them, such as adjusting the tone, refining phrasing, or making other enhancements. Like message summaries, Writing Help would operate entirely within the secure Private Processing environment, ensuring that user privacy is fully protected throughout the process.

An AI-powered feature to privately summarize messages in chats and groups is available to some beta testers who install the latest updates of WhatsApp beta for Android from the Google Play Store, and it is rolling out to even more people over the coming weeks.

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