A new “incognito mode” has been introduced by WhatsApp for conversations with Meta AI. This will allow the users to hold private chats that the company and the user cannot later access.
The new feature will now prevent chats between Meta AI and the user being monitored. The history of the chat will also disappear from the user’s device after use.
Head of WhatsApp, Will Cathcart, said that the users wanted a more private way to discuss sensitive topics such as relationships, health and finances with AI tools.
Many people were uncomfortable sharing personal information with companies according to Cathcart. However, these people still wanted answers from AI systems.
Mark Zuckerberg, META’s Chief Executive described the feature as the first major AI product where there is no data from the conversation is saved on servers.
Will be different from end-to-end encryption
According to WhatsApp the technology behind the incognito mode differs from the platform’s existing end-to-end encryption system. However, Cathcart did say it has the equivalent level of protection.
The incognito feature initially will not be able to process images and will be based on text-based AI interactions.
Meta also clarified that there will be proper AI guardrails so that it refuses the requests that are harmful or illegal
A cybersecurity expert, Alan Woodward at the University of Surrey has told the BBC that the feature will create a little to no risk to WhatsApp’s broader security systems.
However, he did raise concerns about the accountability if AI system produces harmful responses or malfunctions.
He emphasised that as the chats will disappear there will be no way to hold Meta accountable in case of any harm, suicide or even death.
Many users already criticise Meta for not allowing the feature to be disabled. It was added into WhatsApp last year.
Also read: WhatsApp launches paid subscription with new features
