WhatsApp is developing a new feature that allows users to create personalized AI avatars, which can be placed in various virtual settings. According to The Verge, this feature, found in the WhatsApp Beta for Android version 2.24.14.7, uses a combination of user-provided images, text prompts, and Meta’s AI Llama model to generate custom avatars.
Screenshots captured by The Verge show that users can imagine themselves “in any setting, from the forest to outer space.” The generated images resemble those produced by popular AI generators like Lensa AI or Snapchat’s “Dreams” selfie feature.
To create these personalized avatars, WhatsApp users will need to submit photographs of themselves, which will serve as reference images for Meta AI. Users can then create their avatars by typing commands such as “Imagine me” followed by a description of the desired setting in Meta AI chat or by using “@Meta AI imagine me…” in other WhatsApp conversations.
This feature will be optional and will require users to manually enable it in WhatsApp settings. Additionally, users will have the ability to delete the reference images stored in Meta AI settings at any time, ensuring privacy and control over personal data.
Although this feature has innovative potential, there is no specific timeline for its general availability. WhatsApp is gradually rolling out support for its Meta AI chatbot and real-time AI image generation capabilities, particularly in the United States. The launch of the AI avatar feature may be subject to gradual deployment as WhatsApp and Meta address the complexities associated with generative AI tools, according to The Verge.
Given previous challenges with generative AI technologies, Meta is taking a cautious approach to ensure the functionality and security of this upcoming feature. As development progresses, WhatsApp users can look forward to a new dimension of personalization and creativity in their messaging experience, facilitated by advanced AI capabilities.
