How to Disable AI in WhatsApp

To disable AI Smart Replies in WhatsApp, go to “Settings,” click “Chats,” and navigate to “App Settings.” Under “Suggestions & Smart Replies,” toggle off “Suggested Replies.”

These days it seems like AI is inescapable. Communication app, WhatsApp, has joined the ranks of those who have recently introduced AI-powered features in an effort to enhance user experience, such as suggested replies, smart prompts, and chatbot integrations.

Fortunately, if AI isn’t your thing, there are ways to limit—or disable entirely—AI functionality from your WhatsApp.  

What AI Features Does WhatsApp Use?

Owned by Meta (formerly known as Facebook), WhatsApp is testing AI features similar to those you might have seen while using Instagram and Facebook Messenger.

• Suggested replies in which an automated response is prompted based on the context of your message. 
• Chatbot features for customer support
• Summaries of long messages or group chats
• Stickers created by AI based on your text input

How to Disable AI in WhatsApp 

Disable Smart Replies

Suggested replies in which WhatsApp offers messages responses based on your conversation context clues is one of the most common features you might see from AI. 

To disable this feature on Android and iOS:

1. Open WhatsApp and tap the 3 dot menu in Android or the Settings tap in iOS

2. Go to Chats > App Settings > Suggestions & Smart Replies 

3. Toggle off “Suggested Replies”  

Stop AI Stickers

Suggested or AI generated stickers aren’t always preferable to the ones you can create yourself.

To turn off AI stickers:  

1. Open WhatsApp Settings and go to Chats  

2. Tap Stickers > AI Sticker Suggestions 

3. Disable AI-generated sticker prompts

Turn Off AI Message Summaries  

Long messages and group chats might be automatically summarized by WhatsApp AI, which can be distracting when you prefer to read and actively engage with everything in the chat yourself.  

To disable AI summaries: 

1. Go to WhatsApp Settings > Notifications  

2. Find AI Message Summaries  

3. Toggle it off  

Limit AI in Business Communications

When using WhatsApp to conduct any type of business, you might see AI-generated responses being prompted in customer service chats. 

Avoid AI prompts in business:

1. If a chatbot offers the option for you to speak to a human, select yes

2. Preemptively block AI-powered business accounts 

In general, try to stay on top of AI updates and always err on the side of opting out of AI features whenever possible. To help with staying informed, be sure to regularly check on your WhatsApp setting to see if any new AI-related options are being introduced. In the case that WhatsApp rolls out an official opt-out option for all AI, then select any on-screen prompts to allow you to do so. 

Remember that AI uses in WhatsApp might be helpful but AI is not everyone’s first choice for communications or information sharing. As with any social media apps, updates happen gradually but regularly. Keeping your eyes open for changes as they’re introduced is the best approach to always knowing the difference between AI and human interactions and you can always still disable AI in WhatsApp.