Meta launches Incognito AI chats on WhatsApp to boost privacy

By Enitan Abdultawab

Meta Platforms has introduced an “incognito” mode for WhatsApp users, allowing them to converse with the platform’s built‑in AI chatbot in a more private setting. The announcement, made in a blog post on Wednesday, comes amid growing concerns about how personal data is handled by generative AI systems.

Under the new feature, conversations with Meta AI are temporary and, by default, are not stored. Once a user leaves the session, the chat history is deleted. Meta also states that messages sent in incognito mode are processed in a “secure environment” that the company itself cannot access.

The update follows criticism of generative AI tools, which rely on large datasets and can potentially expose sensitive information shared during interactions. Meta noted that many users seek help with personal topics—such as finances, health, work, and relationships—through AI assistants, underscoring the need for stronger privacy safeguards.

“We’re starting to ask a lot of meaningful questions about our lives with AI systems, and it doesn’t always feel like you should have to share the information behind those questions with the companies that run those AI systems,” said Will Cathcart, Meta’s head of WhatsApp.

Cathcart added that the incognito mode includes built‑in restrictions: image uploads and generation are disabled, and responses are limited to text. The system also blocks harmful requests, and if it cannot provide a safe answer, it will refuse or eventually cease interaction with the user.

To use the feature, users must confirm that they are at least 13 years old, as Meta does not allow younger users on its platforms.

With this launch, Meta joins competitors such as Google and OpenAI, which already offer privacy controls like disabling chat history or opting out of data use for model training.

The post Meta rolls out WhatsApp ‘Incognito’ AI chats to improve privacy appeared first on Vanguard News.