Meta Launches AI Assistant in WhatsApp Israel, Sparking User Backlash Over Privacy and Interface

Meta introduced its new personal assistant, Meta AI, based on the Muse Spark model, directly integrated into WhatsApp in Israel last week. The update aims to bring artificial intelligence capabilities to users but has faced significant criticism over the weekend. Many users reported that the integration is aggressive and disrupts normal app use, particularly due to a floating button that appears above the chat list. This button reportedly obscures parts of the interface and causes accidental activations of the AI tool instead of other app functions.

Beyond interface complaints, privacy concerns have also emerged. According to reports and screenshots circulated online, the AI assistant sometimes displays personal information without explicit user requests. In one instance, the system revealed a user's exact city location, explaining it uses a "general area" to tailor responses. This incident sparked widespread discussion and raised fears about the extent of data access by the AI tool.

Meta clarified that the assistant does not track users individually and operates based on basic data defined within the conversation context. Nevertheless, some users remain uneasy about the deep integration of AI within their messaging environment. Currently, Meta has not provided a clear option to fully remove the AI assistant or disable the floating button from WhatsApp's main interface.