WhatsApp beta for Android 2.25.36.12: what's new?

WhatsApp has released a new Android update through the Google Play Beta Program, bringing the version up to 2.25.36.12.
What's new in this update? WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that integrates AI-powered Imagine capabilities into status updates, and it's available to some beta testers!

WhatsApp Expands AI-Powered Imagine Features into Status Updates

In the article about the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.16.3 update, we announced that Mark Zuckerberg announced new features and enhancements for Meta AI on WhatsApp. These include a new Imagine editing functionality, where users can prompt Meta AI to alter an image by adding or removing elements, adjusting its look, or reshaping the overall scene. In addition, the Imagine Yourself feature brings personalized creativity to the foreground by generating images of the user in different scenarios or styles. By typing a simple prompt that begins with "Imagine me", users can place themselves in various settings and appearances.

These features aim to make creative image generation more accessible to WhatsApp users, making it easier to transform ideas into personalized visuals with simple, natural prompts. However, WhatsApp is now further expanding its generative image capabilities, allowing users to refine AI created visuals with greater precision. It also lets users explore more creative scenarios by allowing them to edit their images through short, descriptive prompts. Following the release of the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.25.36.12 update, which is available on the Google Play Store, we discovered that WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that integrates AI-powered Imagine capabilities into status updates!

As you can see from the attached screenshot, WhatsApp is now integrating Imagine editing capabilities powered by Meta AI directly into status updates. As part of this initial rollout, some beta testers in certain regions now have access to a tool that lets them modify an image before publishing it as a status update, offering far more flexibility than the standard editing controls. When users want to check whether their account is included in this early release, they can try selecting an image to share as a status update and observe which label appears in the editing interface. If the usual Filters button is replaced by an Effects label, this indicates that the new Imagine powered functionality has been activated for their account.

Once inside the Effects section, users can browse a set of creative styles that completely redefine the appearance of the selected image. These styles include 3D, Collage, Anime, Paper, Illustrated, Low poly, Cartoon, Goth, Art deco, Cinema, and Watercolor, each designed to give the image a distinct visual character. Even after selecting a style, users have the option to generate a different variation if the current version doesn't match their preferences. Together, these styles offer a range of artistic treatments that can make an image appear more stylized, more playful, more dramatic, or more expressive.

Beyond applying a new visual style, the feature also allows users to alter the content of the image by adding elements generated by Meta AI, such as objects, decorations, or creative details that enhance the scene. Users can also remove unwanted components from the image, for example by erasing background clutter or replacing distracting items with a cleaner digital reconstruction. In addition to these refinements, the tool provides the option to reimagine the image entirely, so users can transform the whole composition based on a short prompt that describes a different setting or mood. Another capability available through this feature is the option to animate the image, turning a static photo into a short moving visual that can make status updates more engaging.

These advanced editing tools bring a new level of creativity to WhatsApp status updates by letting users craft visuals that feel more personal, polished, and adaptable to different types of storytelling. For example, users can create a cinematic styled image for a special moment or convert a casual photo into a playful cartoon effect when sharing something lighthearted. The ability to change the style, modify the content, or animate the scene provides a flexible toolkit that fits both everyday updates and more imaginative posts. This integration of AI encourages users to experiment with visual formats that were previously difficult to achieve within WhatsApp.

The feature that integrates AI-powered Imagine capabilities into status updates is currently available to some beta testers who install the latest updates of WhatsApp beta for Android from the Google Play Store. It is possible that certain users on the latest stable version may still gain early access depending on server side availability. Meanwhile, WhatsApp continues refining the feature so that by the time it reaches a broader rollout, more users can enjoy a smooth and bug free experience.

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