WhatsApp Develops AI Tool to Automatically Expand Photos for Vertical 9:16 Format

WhatsApp is developing a new artificial intelligence-based feature that will allow users to automatically expand images to fit a vertical 9:16 aspect ratio. According to WABetaInfo, this feature is currently in development for Android devices and was detected in the beta version 2.26.33.2 of the app. The tool will be integrated directly into WhatsApp's photo editor, eliminating the need to use external apps for resizing images.

When users select the expansion option, Meta AI will analyze the image and generate new content around its edges to adapt it to the 9:16 vertical format. Unlike traditional stretching that can distort objects, the AI will attempt to understand the image's environment and create a natural-looking extension. After a few seconds of processing, users will receive the expanded image and can share it or retry if unsatisfied.

The choice of the 9:16 format is mainly aimed at full-screen vertical content, especially WhatsApp status updates. Square or horizontal images often show empty spaces or require cropping, which can cut out parts of the image. This AI expansion preserves the original image while adding new areas instead of cropping.

The feature is being developed for both chat images and status updates, though it is unclear if both will launch simultaneously. Status updates may get priority due to their natural fit with vertical content. Currently, the feature is not available even to beta testers and remains under development. WhatsApp has not announced a release date or specified which regions will receive the feature at launch.