Meta AI is built into Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp and cannot be fully disabled, but users can mute its presence. Detailed steps show how to silence Meta AI in Instagram, turn off comment summaries on Facebook, mute the chat in Messenger, and hide the AI conversation in WhatsApp. Muting reduces AI prompts and notifications while keeping the apps functional. Read more →

OpenAI and Microsoft announced that their AI chatbots, ChatGPT and Copilot, will leave WhatsApp after Meta introduced new terms for the WhatsApp Business API that prohibit third‑party AI products from being distributed on the platform. The policy change, effective January 15th, 2026, forces the bots to cease operations on WhatsApp, with OpenAI offering a way for users to preserve chat history while Copilot users have no such option. The shift is expected to trigger additional departures from other AI services, leaving Meta’s own AI as the sole chatbot offering on WhatsApp after the deadline. Read more →

OpenAI’s ChatGPT is now available as a free AI contact inside Meta’s WhatsApp messaging app. Users can add the number 1‑800‑242‑8478 to start chatting with the bot, link their ChatGPT account for sync, and enjoy features such as question answering, summarization, translation, coding help, and image generation. The free offering will end on January 15, 2026 due to a change in Meta’s policy, after which users can still access the service through paid plans. The integration also lets users send photos for analysis and manage conversation settings directly within WhatsApp. Read more →

OpenAI has revealed that its ChatGPT integration within WhatsApp will cease operation on January 15, 2026, citing a policy and terms change from WhatsApp. The company posted a blog announcement stating its preference to continue the service but emphasizing a smooth transition for users. WhatsApp does not support chat exports, and there will be no automatic method to transfer chats after the cutoff. OpenAI suggests a workaround through the 1‑800‑ChatGPT contact profile, allowing users to link their accounts and merge query history. The move comes amid speculation about competitive tensions with Meta, which is also expanding its AI offerings. Read more →

Google is experimenting with its Nano Banana AI image generator inside the Messages app. A hidden banana icon appears when users long‑press an image, suggesting future editing or creation capabilities. The feature, part of Gemini 2.5 Flash, has already rolled out to NotebookLM and Google Lens, with plans for Photos. Competitors such as Meta AI, Apple, and Snapchat are also adding AI image tools to their messaging platforms. Read more →

Meta AI now appears in Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and WhatsApp, offering suggestions and comment summaries that many users find intrusive. While the feature cannot be removed entirely, each app provides a way to mute the AI chat and turn off its automatic functions. By accessing the chat settings or privacy options within each platform, users can silence Meta AI, hide its messages, and stop comment summaries from appearing on their posts. These steps give users control over the AI presence without needing to uninstall any apps. Read more →

Germany has announced it will not support the EU's Child Sexual Abuse Regulation, commonly known as "Chat Control," which would require mandatory scanning of private messages for illegal content. Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig emphasized that random monitoring must remain taboo in a constitutional state, calling the move a major victory for digital privacy. The decision follows weeks of mixed signals and pressure from various ministries. Privacy advocates, including former Pirate Party MEP Patrick Breyer, hailed the rejection, while officials warned the fight against child exploitation will continue. The EU Council is set to meet with the Justice Minister to determine the proposal's future. Read more →

Meta announced that conversations with its Meta AI assistant on Facebook and Instagram will be used to personalize the ads and content users see. The change will roll out without an opt‑out option, while chats on WhatsApp remain excluded. Meta says it will respect boundaries around sensitive topics, and the rollout skips Europe and the UK due to GDPR restrictions. The move turns AI interactions into another data source for ad targeting, raising privacy concerns among users. Read more →

WhatsApp is now offering on-device message translation for its iOS and Android apps. Users can translate messages between a range of languages by long‑pressing a chat, and Android users gain an optional automatic‑translation mode for entire conversations. The feature works in one‑on‑one chats, groups, and channel updates while keeping conversations private, as translation happens locally on the device. Initial language support includes English, Spanish, Hindi, Portuguese, Russian and Arabic, with plans for additional languages in the future. Read more →

Niamh Sweeney, a former Meta lobbyist who spent six years at the company, has been named commissioner of Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC). She succeeds Des Hogan and Dale Sutherland as the third active commissioner. Irish Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan welcomed the appointment, noting the DPC’s expanding responsibilities. Critics point to the DPC’s historically lenient stance toward big tech, citing low fine collection rates and past fines against Meta for data breaches and password storage violations. The move raises questions about the regulator’s future independence and enforcement vigor. Read more →

Niamh Sweeney, a former Meta lobbyist who spent six years at the company, has been named commissioner of Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC). She succeeds Des Hogan and Dale Sutherland as the third active commissioner. Irish Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan welcomed the appointment, noting the DPC’s expanding responsibilities. Critics point to the DPC’s historically lenient stance toward big tech, citing low fine collection rates and past fines against Meta for data breaches and password storage violations. The move raises questions about the regulator’s future independence and enforcement vigor. Read more →

Niamh Sweeney, a former Meta lobbyist who spent six years at the company, has been named commissioner of Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC). She succeeds Des Hogan and Dale Sutherland as the third active commissioner. Irish Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan welcomed the appointment, noting the DPC’s expanding responsibilities. Critics point to the DPC’s historically lenient stance toward big tech, citing low fine collection rates and past fines against Meta for data breaches and password storage violations. The move raises questions about the regulator’s future independence and enforcement vigor. Read more →

Niamh Sweeney, a former Meta lobbyist who spent six years at the company, has been named commissioner of Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC). She succeeds Des Hogan and Dale Sutherland as the third active commissioner. Irish Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan welcomed the appointment, noting the DPC’s expanding responsibilities. Critics point to the DPC’s historically lenient stance toward big tech, citing low fine collection rates and past fines against Meta for data breaches and password storage violations. The move raises questions about the regulator’s future independence and enforcement vigor. Read more →

Niamh Sweeney, a former Meta lobbyist who spent six years at the company, has been named commissioner of Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC). She succeeds Des Hogan and Dale Sutherland as the third active commissioner. Irish Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan welcomed the appointment, noting the DPC’s expanding responsibilities. Critics point to the DPC’s historically lenient stance toward big tech, citing low fine collection rates and past fines against Meta for data breaches and password storage violations. The move raises questions about the regulator’s future independence and enforcement vigor. Read more →

WhatsApp announced a new AI-powered tool called Writing Help that lets users rephrase, proofread, or change the tone of their messages. The feature runs on Meta’s Private Processing technology, meaning the original text and suggested rewrites stay private and are not read by Meta or WhatsApp. Users can access Writing Help by tapping a new pencil icon while drafting a message, and the tool currently rolls out in English in select countries. Read more →

WhatsApp has introduced an AI-driven writing assistant that offers phrase suggestions in multiple tones, such as professional, funny, or supportive. Users can access the tool via a new pencil icon in individual or group chats. The feature is currently available only in English for users in the United States, with plans to expand to additional languages and regions. Built on Meta’s Private Processing technology, the assistant processes queries in the cloud while preserving WhatsApp’s end‑to‑end encryption, aiming to maintain the platform’s core privacy guarantees. Read more →