a new Meta AI button has appeared in the chats tab
WhatsApp has quietly introduced a new artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot on iPhones in the UK, sparking a fresh wave of complaints.
The move follows the chatbot’s earlier launch on Android, which reignited concerns about AI integration across Meta’s platforms.
Frustrated users have taken to social media to criticise the update, with some upset about the chatbot’s permanence and potential data use.
Many users say they just want to message friends, not interact with machines. Some are now threatening to move to Signal or Telegram.
One EU lawmaker has also raised concerns about the chatbot’s impact on user control and digital safety following the Android launch.
Now, after WhatsApp’s latest iPhone update, a new Meta AI button has appeared in the chats tab, the app’s home page.
The button, marked by a bluish-purple circular logo, allows users to message the chatbot directly, similar to using ChatGPT.
It can offer TV show recommendations, help draft work emails, and suggest travel tips, although it lacks features like image generation.
Meta is encouraging users to summon the bot during group chats by typing @MetaAI, or access it through the search bar.
Users will also find suggested questions in the search bar, guiding them towards using the AI for everyday queries.
However, WhatsApp users looking to disable Meta AI will be disappointed, as there is no official way to remove the feature.
Despite online misinformation suggesting a hidden setting, WhatsApp confirms there is no current option to turn the chatbot off.
Some users have recommended switching to WhatsApp Business, but this solution may not be practical for the average person.
WhatsApp maintains that users are not being forced to use Meta AI. A spokesperson said the overall feedback has been positive.
Meanwhile, Meta’s founder Mark Zuckerberg said:
“Meta AI is on track to become the world’s leading artificial intelligence.”
Zuckerberg also confirmed that Meta AI has already attracted nearly 500 million users since its initial rollout across Meta platforms.
The backlash underscores ongoing tensions between tech companies’ AI ambitions and public concerns about privacy, control, and transparency.
Experts warn that integrating AI into everyday apps without offering clear opt-out options could erode trust among core user bases.
WhatsApp has not announced any plans to allow users to disable Meta AI in future updates, despite mounting criticism.
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