WhatsApp, as per WBI, is testing several new features that could soon reshape how people get help, view sponsored content, and catch up on conversations. These tools, currently available in various Android beta versions, reflect the app’s broader shift toward automation, visibility for creators, and private AI-powered convenience.
This new support flow skips the form entirely. The AI asks follow-up questions, pulls up suggestions from WhatsApp’s help library, and offers step-by-step guidance. It’s already live for some users in the standard app, even though it’s still tagged as a beta feature. The aim here is to reduce waiting time and cut down on vague interactions that often lead nowhere.
Status Ads work a bit like Instagram stories from brands. They show up between regular status updates and can be skipped with a swipe. While they don’t interrupt conversations, they do blend into the same space where friends and contacts post updates. Each one is labeled clearly so people can spot a sponsored post at a glance. If a certain advertiser gets too pushy, there’s a quick option to block them entirely.
Promoted Channels follow a similar pattern. These are public channels that pay for extra visibility, making them more likely to show up when users browse or search. These placements are flagged as sponsored and appear alongside organic channels in the directory. It’s a new way for creators and organizations to grow an audience without relying entirely on word of mouth.
To help users track what they’ve seen, WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that creates an ad activity report. This log lists which ads were shown, when they appeared, and which advertisers paid for them. The report can be downloaded as a ZIP file, so users can archive or review it whenever they like. There’s also an option to have the report generated automatically every month.
While advertising may feel like a big shift for a messaging app, WhatsApp says it’s keeping things tight on privacy. Ads won’t appear inside chats, and the app still doesn’t read private messages or listen to calls. The ad system pulls from public activity, language settings, rough location, and followed channels, with users free to opt in or out of data sharing across Meta platforms. Importantly, phone numbers and private content remain off-limits to advertisers.
Here’s how it works. You choose up to five chats, press the Quick Recap button, and within moments, the app presents a digest of what you missed. The summaries are stored locally and generated using encrypted data. This keeps private chats protected while still offering a bit of AI-powered convenience.
Not all chats are eligible. Conversations marked with Advanced Chat Privacy won’t be included in recaps. And the feature isn’t turned on by default. If you want to use it, you’ll need to switch it on in your settings.
Note: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools.
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AI-Based Support Replaces Old Contact Forms
Until recently, asking WhatsApp for help meant filling out a form, adding a few screenshots, and hoping someone eventually replied. That system is now being replaced by something a bit more direct. Users opening the Help Center are being redirected to a chat where a support bot takes over. Instead of guessing which article fits their problem, users describe their issue in plain language and the system tries to match it with relevant answers. If the bot can’t solve it, the conversation can be passed along to a human agent.
This new support flow skips the form entirely. The AI asks follow-up questions, pulls up suggestions from WhatsApp’s help library, and offers step-by-step guidance. It’s already live for some users in the standard app, even though it’s still tagged as a beta feature. The aim here is to reduce waiting time and cut down on vague interactions that often lead nowhere.
Ads Quietly Appear in Status and Channels
WhatsApp is also beginning to show ads in parts of the app that never had them before. Some users in the beta program have started to see Status Ads and Promoted Channels inside the Updates tab. These changes mark the start of a more visible advertising strategy that stays clear of private chats and group threads.Status Ads work a bit like Instagram stories from brands. They show up between regular status updates and can be skipped with a swipe. While they don’t interrupt conversations, they do blend into the same space where friends and contacts post updates. Each one is labeled clearly so people can spot a sponsored post at a glance. If a certain advertiser gets too pushy, there’s a quick option to block them entirely.
Promoted Channels follow a similar pattern. These are public channels that pay for extra visibility, making them more likely to show up when users browse or search. These placements are flagged as sponsored and appear alongside organic channels in the directory. It’s a new way for creators and organizations to grow an audience without relying entirely on word of mouth.
To help users track what they’ve seen, WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that creates an ad activity report. This log lists which ads were shown, when they appeared, and which advertisers paid for them. The report can be downloaded as a ZIP file, so users can archive or review it whenever they like. There’s also an option to have the report generated automatically every month.
While advertising may feel like a big shift for a messaging app, WhatsApp says it’s keeping things tight on privacy. Ads won’t appear inside chats, and the app still doesn’t read private messages or listen to calls. The ad system pulls from public activity, language settings, rough location, and followed channels, with users free to opt in or out of data sharing across Meta platforms. Importantly, phone numbers and private content remain off-limits to advertisers.
AI Chat Recaps Coming Soon
The third feature, still in development, is designed for people who don’t always have time to scroll through long chats. WhatsApp is working on a tool called Quick Recap, which gives users a short summary of unread messages from selected conversations. It’s built on Meta’s Private Processing system, which ensures that summaries stay secure and unreadable by WhatsApp or Meta itself.
Here’s how it works. You choose up to five chats, press the Quick Recap button, and within moments, the app presents a digest of what you missed. The summaries are stored locally and generated using encrypted data. This keeps private chats protected while still offering a bit of AI-powered convenience.
Not all chats are eligible. Conversations marked with Advanced Chat Privacy won’t be included in recaps. And the feature isn’t turned on by default. If you want to use it, you’ll need to switch it on in your settings.
Gradual Rollout, Big Shift
All three features are being tested in stages and aren’t available to everyone just yet. But taken together, they show how WhatsApp is evolving. From replacing old support forms with live AI bots, to building tools that make ads more transparent, and adding optional AI recaps for busy users, the app is clearly adapting to changing habits. Whether or not these changes catch on, the direction is clear — faster help, smarter tools, and more control over what users see and share.Note: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools.
Read next: LinkedIn Plans to Remove Hashtag Feed as Platforms Shift Discovery Methods
