Rebecca Manzi WhatsApp introduces Message Summaries: AI-generated chat recaps that keep your privacy intact. Available now in the U.S., with global rollout planned for 2025.
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It happens to everyone. You open WhatsApp and find yourself staring at dozens of unread notifications — maybe from a hyperactive group or just after a few hours offline. In a world where time is scarce and attention even more so, even catching up on messages can feel like a task. That’s where a new feature called Message Summaries steps in.
Powered by Meta’s artificial intelligence, this tool offers a shortcut: a brief summary of unread messages, letting you skip the endless scroll and get straight to the point. If you’ve got at least three unread messages, a simple tap on the unread indicator reveals a concise recap of what’s been going on. Especially in those never-sleeping group chats, it can feel like a breath of fresh air.
Privacy first, no exceptions
One of the most crucial aspects of this update is, unsurprisingly, privacy. WhatsApp emphasizes that summaries are generated directly on your device, using a technology called Private Processing. That means neither Meta nor WhatsApp can access your messages or the summaries themselves.
Even better, no one in the conversation will know if you used the feature — or if you went old school and actually read every single message. In a time when digital etiquette can be as tricky as real-life manners, that level of discretion matters.
Opt-in, not forced on
Message Summaries is completely optional. It’s turned off by default, and you get to choose whether to activate it and for which chats. There’s no pressure, no algorithm nudging you. Just a tool, waiting in the background, ready if and when you want it.
For now, the summaries are available only in English, and only in the United States. But Meta has already announced plans to roll it out to other countries and languages by the end of 2025.
Small feature, big impact
With this new addition, WhatsApp continues its gradual integration of AI, aiming to make digital communication smoother — without sacrificing privacy. It’s the kind of update that could make a real difference on those chaotic days when even keeping up with friends feels like a second job.
After all, who hasn’t dreamed of having a personal assistant who filters out the noise and shows you only what really matters in that endless stream of messages? Well, now you do. It’s called Message Summaries.
