WhatsApp has begun rolling out Meta AI to its mobile app, bringing conversational artificial intelligence directly into the messaging platform for users in selected countries, including Kenya.

The feature is now available on both Android and iOS, but users must update to the latest version of the app to access it. Meta AI is powered by the Llama 3 model and allows users to ask questions, summarise information, generate text and images, or simply have a conversation — all within WhatsApp.

Meta AI appears in two places in the app: either at the top of the chat list as a search bar labelled "Ask Meta AI" or as a separate chat contact at the bottom right corner of the screen. Meta is also testing a feature that would allow users to mention the AI within group chats using @Meta AI, though this option is still under development and not yet widely available.

The rollout is gradual and depends on region, device model, and app store update schedules. Kenya is among the first countries to receive the new feature, but not all users will see it immediately even after updating the app.

Meta AI has drawn comparisons to OpenAI’s ChatGPT, especially the GPT-4o model, although users have noted differences in performance.

“I still feel it needs a lot of work compared to ChatGPT when it comes to answering or responding to questions,” said Mellissa Waithera, a California resident, in an interview with The Eastleigh Voice on Thursday. “I tried asking it to respond to a question one of my contacts asked, but it redirected me outside the application. Honestly, I feel I’ll just stick to ChatGPT, it understands me better.”

User feedback has been mixed, with many praising the feature's potential but pointing out its current limitations. Meta AI struggles with complex prompts and, in some cases, redirects users outside the app, leading to concerns about how useful it truly is within the messaging environment.

Despite these issues, Meta is pushing ahead with a broader rollout that will include both personal and business accounts. This includes the WhatsApp Business app, where Meta AI is being used to help businesses automate customer service, generate replies, and create advertising content connected to WhatsApp chats.

Meta has advised users to keep their apps updated to check for availability as the rollout continues in phases over the coming weeks.

For users concerned about privacy, WhatsApp does not currently provide a way to disable Meta AI. Since the tool is built into the latest versions of the app, the only way to avoid it is by not interacting with it or sending it any prompts.