WhatsApp has launched its new artificial intelligence chatbot, Meta AI, on iPhones across the UK, sparking fresh complaints from users who say they just want to chat with friends, not machines. The rollout of Meta AI on iOS comes just weeks after its controversial debut on Android devices in the UK and Europe, which reignited backlash first seen when Meta integrated the assistant into Instagram and other apps last year.
Frustrated users have taken to social media to criticize the addition of the WhatsApp Meta AI chatbot, with some expressing concerns about privacy and the use of their data to train the AI model. Others have threatened to switch to rival messaging apps like Signal or Telegram unless WhatsApp reverses the update.
How to use Meta AI on WhatsApp for iPhone
After updating WhatsApp on an iPhone, users will notice a new Meta AI button featuring a bluish-purple logo in the chats tab. Tapping it opens a conversation with the AI chatbot, allowing users to ask for TV recommendations, draft work emails, request travel advice, and more—similar to ChatGPT but without image or video generation features.
Meta AI can also be summoned in group chats by typing @MetaAI or accessed via the search bar, where users will find example prompts.
No option to disable Meta AI
For those who prefer a traditional messaging experience, the bad news is that Meta AI cannot be disabled or removed from WhatsApp. Despite some misinformation circulating online, there is no official setting to turn off the chatbot.
Some users have suggested switching to WhatsApp Business as a workaround, but this solution is unlikely to appeal to everyday users. WhatsApp maintains that Meta AI is optional and not intrusive, and claims that the general response has been mostly positive.
Meta AI’s rapid growth
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently announced that Meta AI is quickly gaining traction, with nearly 500 million users worldwide. The company aims to position Meta AI as the leading artificial intelligence platform globally, despite ongoing privacy concerns and regulatory scrutiny in Europe.
