Meta AI

What Is It, In Plain Words?

Meta AI is the AI assistant built into WhatsApp, Facebook, Messenger and Instagram. If you use any of those apps, you may already have it.

You chat with it the same way you'd message a friend. It's free, but remember you're talking to a computer run by Meta, not a person.

What You Can Use It For

• Quick questions in WhatsApp. "How many grams is 8 ounces?"
• Ideas. "Give me five ideas for a 50th wedding anniversary party."
• Help with a message. "Help me word a polite message asking my neighbour to trim his hedge."

Getting Started Step By Step

In WhatsApp

1. Open WhatsApp and look for the blue-and-purple ring icon, or a chat called Meta AI.
2. Tap it and accept the terms if asked.
3. Type your question and send it like a normal message.

On A Computer

1. Open your web browser and go to meta.ai. Check the address carefully, because look-alike sites exist.
2. Sign in with your Facebook or Instagram account, or carry on without one where offered.
3. Type your question in the box.

Things To Try Typing

Copy any of these, or change the details to suit you.

What It Costs

It's free. There's no paid version to buy.

If anyone asks you to pay to use it, or to "unlock" it, that's a scam.

Privacy And Safety

• It's not private like a chat with a friend. Meta can use what you type to Meta AI to improve its AI. Don't tell it anything you wouldn't want Meta to know.
• Your normal WhatsApp chats with people stay end-to-end encrypted. Meta AI only sees messages you send to it, or messages where someone mentions @Meta AI.
• Take care with the Share or Post buttons in the Meta AI app, which can make a chat public.
• Never type passwords, PINs, bank or card numbers, your National Insurance number (UK) or Social Security number (USA).
• Check important answers about health, money or the law with your doctor, pharmacist, bank or a qualified adviser.

Good Points And Watch-Outs

Good Points

• Already inside apps many people use every day.
• Free, with no extra sign-up in WhatsApp.
• On a computer, hold Ctrl (or Cmd on a Mac) and press + to make the words bigger. On a phone, it follows your text size setting.

Watch-Outs

• You can't fully remove it from WhatsApp, but you don't have to use it.
• It can be wrong and sound sure.
• Scammers sometimes pretend to be "Meta support". Meta AI will never ask for your password or bank details.

Similar Tools

• ChatGPT: the best-known chatbot, with a simple app and voice mode.
• Gemini: Google's assistant, handy if you use Gmail or an Android phone.
• Google AI Mode: longer questions answered inside Google Search.

Common Questions

Is Meta AI free?

Yes, it's free inside WhatsApp, Facebook, Messenger and Instagram.

Can Meta AI read my WhatsApp messages?

Meta says it can only see messages you send to Meta AI or where someone mentions @Meta AI. Your other chats stay end-to-end encrypted.

Can I turn off Meta AI in WhatsApp?

You can't fully remove it, but you can ignore it and never open the Meta AI chat.