This is an update to our Oct 20, 2025 report.
Nov 9, 2025
There are fresh rumors/reports that Meta will be introducing a new feature in WhatsApp that will allow @MetaAI to read ALL your messages from December 2025 onward.
So we decided to do a little investigation of our own, but found no evidence of this, at least till the time of the writing of this explainer.
Since early 2025, Meta’s AI assistant — @MetaAI — has appeared in WhatsApp, letting users ask questions, create images, and even summarise chats. But its arrival has sparked a wave of concern: is the AI now reading everyone’s messages?
The short answer is no. Here’s what you need to know, plus how you can limit or turn it off if you prefer.
There’s an entire post on Meta’s official WhatsApp blog. Click here to read it.
What Meta says
Meta insists that private WhatsApp messages remain end-to-end encrypted, meaning no one — not even Meta — can read them.
The AI only sees messages that you send directly to it (for example, when you type “@MetaAI” in a chat, or open a chat with the MetaAI contact).
As of now, as per Meta’s claim, it cannot access your private chats, group messages, photos, or voice notes unless you share them with the AI.
Our readers are advised to read these official announcements from Meta:
https://www.facebook.com/privacy/genai
https://faq.whatsapp.com/2257017191175152
Where @MetaAI appears
- In the search bar at the top of WhatsApp.
- In chats, when you type “@MetaAI” followed by a question.
- As a separate chat called “Meta AI,” where you can talk to the assistant.
You can use it — or ignore it completely.
How to limit Meta AI in WhatsApp
Here’s a caveat before we go on: There’s no way you can completely remove/unplug @MetaAI from WhatsApp. But yes, you can limit it’s use.
Option 1: Avoid chatting with @MetaAI
The simplest choice: don’t open or message the AI.
If you never send it a prompt, it never sees your messages.
Option 2: Hide or remove the Meta AI shortcut
- Open WhatsApp.
- Tap the search bar → tap and hold @MetaAI.
- Select “Hide” (on Android) or “Remove from search” (on iPhone).
This reportedly hides the shortcut, though the AI feature still exists in the app.*
Option 3: Use “Advanced Chat Privacy” for specific chats
WhatsApp introduced Advanced Chat Privacy in 2025 to give users more control over what happens inside individual or group chats.
To turn it on:
- Open any chat or group.
- Tap the chat name → choose Advanced Chat Privacy.
- Turn on the toggle.
When enabled, this feature:
- Stops others from exporting that chat.
- Disables automatic media downloads from it.
- Prevents messages in that chat from being used in AI features like summarisation or @MetaAI tagging.
It’s useful for sensitive conversations — but note, it must be turned on per chat and does not affect all chats globally.
Option 4: Review your privacy settings
- Go to Settings → Privacy → Advanced Chat Privacy (or directly via a chat).
- Check what’s enabled — you can disable features like read receipts, profile photo visibility, and last seen for added privacy.
- Also check Settings → Chats → Media visibility to stop auto-saving images and videos.
Alert: Some Options Don’t Work For Some
Now here’s the thing that Meta has done, unwittingly (or maybe on purpose) where @MetaAI in WhatsApp is concerned.
(a) All the above options depend on your OS – Android or iOS
(b) They also depend on the device model and its own internal settings
(c) It also depends on where you are geographically located. Which means the Advanced Chat Privacy is still being rolled out and not everyone can get access to it, for example.
- Turning on Advanced Chat Privacy doesn’t change your encryption — it just limits sharing and AI use.
- Meta AI does not have access to all chats by default. Viral posts claiming otherwise are false.
- You can’t completely uninstall Meta AI from WhatsApp yet — but you can easily avoid using it.
Why Option 2 often “doesn’t work”
Meta AI is an embedded part of WhatsApp’s interface in many releases — the app may show a persistent AI button or place the assistant in search. Because it’s integrated at the app level, there’s no universal “delete/remove AI” option for all users. Some writeups that suggested long-pressing to hide were either for limited device builds or old instructions that got removed.
In short: you can usually hide or avoid it, but you can’t fully uninstall it from the app in most regions. (WIRED)
Practical alternatives that do work (pick one or more)
A — Don’t interact with it (safest)
If you never message @MetaAI or open its chat, it won’t see your private chats. Simple and effective. (No steps — just don’t start a conversation.) (WhatsApp Help Center)
B — Archive the Meta AI conversation (removes it from main chat list)
If you already have a Meta AI chat and it’s cluttering your chat list:
Android
- Long-press the Meta AI conversation in your chats list.
- Tap Archive (box icon or Archive option).
iPhone
- Swipe left on the Meta AI conversation.
- Tap Archive.
This hides it from your main list until you unarchive or a new message appears. Useful when you want it out of sight. (Techpoint Africa)
C — Delete the Meta AI chat (clears history)
- Open the Meta AI conversation.
- Tap the contact/name at the top → Delete chat (or long-press the chat → Delete).
This removes stored conversation history you had with the assistant. It doesn’t remove the feature from the app. (WIRED)
D — Turn off UI elements (if your app build shows the toggle)
Some WhatsApp builds let you hide the AI button or suggestions in settings (this is inconsistent across regions/versions). Check:
- Settings → Chats → look for Show Meta AI button / AI suggestions and toggle it off.
- If you don’t see it, your app/version/region likely doesn’t support that toggle. Update the app to the latest version and check again. (The Sun)
E — Reset what Meta AI remembers about you
If you’ve chatted with the assistant and want to wipe what it has stored:
- Open the Meta AI chat.
- Tap the assistant name → look for Settings / Data / Reset or Clear memory and follow prompts.
(Exact menu labels vary; Wired and some guides note a “reset” or “delete memory” option in the AI chat settings.) (WIRED)
F — Last-resort / heavy handed
- Uninstalling and reinstalling an older APK version without Meta AI is technically possible on Android (not recommended — security risks and unsupported). I don’t recommend this for production or typical users. (itoolab.com)
Troubleshooting checklist (if “hide” or steps don’t work)
- Update WhatsApp: go to your store (Play Store / App Store) and update. Newer versions sometimes add/remove toggles.
- Region/build differences: some options appear only in certain countries. If you don’t see a setting, it may not be available to you. (WIRED)
- Check chat type: Advanced Chat Privacy may not be available for business accounts or certain broadcast chats.
- Restart app / device after toggling settings.
- Archive + mute the AI chat to remove notifications and screen clutter.
- If you used the AI and want to remove traces: delete chat + use the AI chat’s settings to clear memory. (Reportei)
ALERT
Many users tried the “long-press to hide @MetaAI” trick — but that only works in limited builds. There is no universal remove button yet.
For Those Who Still Don’t Know This – Here’s A Primer On What is “End-to-End Encryption”
End-to-End Encryption (E2EE) is like sending a locked box that only the sender and receiver can open.
When you send a message, WhatsApp encrypts it on your device, and only the recipient’s device can decrypt it.
Even WhatsApp (or Meta) can’t read or store the message in plain text — not in their servers, not in backups, not for AI training.
That’s why Meta AI can only “see” messages you actively share with it — because those are outside the encrypted private chat.
Bottom line
Your private WhatsApp messages are still private.
@MetaAI can only read what you choose to send it — not the rest of your chats.
If you’re uncomfortable with AI in your messaging app:
- Don’t use it.
- Hide the shortcut.
- Turn on Advanced Chat Privacy in sensitive chats.
And remember: encryption protects your conversations, not your curiosity — so treat the AI like a separate contact, not a silent observer.
(Our previous story)
A new feature called Advanced Chat Privacy has quietly rolled out on WhatsApp, and it’s causing a stir. Some users believe Meta AI can now peek into your group chats and personal messages. Others say it’s all misinformation.
So what’s the truth?
We’ve done a deep dive into:
1. What this setting actually does (and doesn’t do)
2. How the @MetaAI tag could be misused—even by someone in your group
3. Whether Meta can legally access your chats or contacts
4. The real risks you should be worried about (hint: it’s not just Meta)
💡 If you care about digital privacy, this is must-read material.
👉 Unlock the full story and learn how to protect your chats.
For this and many more such deep dives into digital privacy, subscribe to My Data Zero newsletter and stay informed.
(Image credit: Meta AI)
Readers are strongly advised to exercise their own discretion and verify settings before making any changes. This article has been prepared with care and thorough research, with some assistance from AI tools — and both humans and generative AI can make mistakes.
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