Meta rolls out AI on WhatsApp in Europe and users cannot disable it

For users who prefer an AI-free messaging environment, steering clear of the AI button is the only option

Meta's AI is now an unavoidable part of WhatsApp for users in Europe.

After halting the rollout last year due to regulatory concerns, Meta has resumed its deployment of AI features across 41 European countries, with users now reporting the integration of Meta AI into their WhatsApp experience.

Last week, Meta announced that AI enhancements would finally be available on WhatsApp for European users. Since then, an increasing number of users have spotted the Meta AI button appearing in their WhatsApp apps.

A user in the UK informed Bleeping Computer that they noticed Meta AI automatically added to WhatsApp on iOS. Similar reports have surfaced on social media platforms such as X and Reddit, with users in France, Germany and other European nations sharing their observations.

Meta AI feature introduces an "AI" button placed above the "New Chat" button, offering quick access to the chatbot.

Additionally, when users attempt to search for a chat, group, or contact, they will encounter AI-generated suggestions and prompts that integrate Meta AI responses.

Meta AI's integration into WhatsApp is mandatory and cannot be disabled. Bleeping Computer's tests confirmed that there is no setting to turn off the AI functionality.

The forced inclusion of Meta AI has left many European users frustrated. Unlike in other platforms where AI features can be disabled or restricted, WhatsApp users are faced with the reality that AI is now a permanent fixture of their messaging experience.

For users who prefer a traditional, AI-free messaging environment, steering clear of the AI button above the chat icon is the only option – a workaround that does little to ease concerns about privacy and user autonomy.

Meta has stated that personal chats will not be used to train AI models. However, conversations with Meta AI itself could be used to improve future versions of the chatbot. This has raised concerns among privacy advocates who fear that AI interactions, even within a messaging app as private as WhatsApp, could be exploited to refine Meta's algorithms.

Meta AI features

Despite its integration, Meta AI within WhatsApp is not as robust as its web-based counterpart.

While users in the US enjoy features like image generation and personalised selfies, European users will initially only have access to a basic "intelligent chat" function. It will respond to questions, generate lengthy replies and fetch information via Bing-powered links, but cannot transcribe audio or summarise group chats.

One notable feature that has made its way to WhatsApp is AI-powered sticker creation. Users can generate personalised stickers by interacting with Meta AI, adding a creative element to conversations.

Meta AI launch encompasses all 27 EU member states, along with a broader European reach including 14 additional countries like Iceland, Serbia, Norway and Switzerland and 21 overseas territories.

The feature currently supports six languages: English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German and Italian.