WhatsApp to Offer Live Call Transcription for Unknown Numbers
WhatsApp is developing a new feature that will provide live transcriptions of calls from unknown numbers, allowing users to read what the caller says before answering. This advanced filtering tool aims to reduce spam while ensuring legitimate callers can be identified. The transcription will be processed on the user's device to maintain privacy. However, the initial rollout will not support Hebrew, limiting its usefulness for Israeli users until more languages are added.
הידיעה ב-6 שורות · תקציר של baba
- WhatsApp is developing a feature to provide live transcriptions of calls from unknown numbers.
- Users will see a real-time text of the caller's speech before deciding to answer.
- The transcription process will occur on the user's device to ensure privacy and encryption.
- The new tool offers an alternative to simply silencing or answering calls from unknown contacts.
- Hebrew is not included in the initial language support for the feature.
- The functionality is similar to features offered by Apple and Google on their respective platforms.
WhatsApp is developing an advanced call filtering feature that will allow users to see a live transcription of what an unknown caller is saying before deciding whether to answer. This new tool aims to address the dilemma of whether to ignore a call from an unsaved number and risk missing an important contact, or to answer and potentially face spam. The current "silence unknown callers" feature in WhatsApp is a blanket solution that blocks all such calls without providing any context.
The upcoming feature, discovered in the Android beta version 2.26.41.4, will offer three modes: disabling filtering entirely, silencing unknown callers automatically, or enabling the new smart response system. In the smart response mode, WhatsApp will automatically answer the call, prompt the caller to state their reason for calling, and display a real-time transcription on the user's screen. This functionality is comparable to Apple's Live Voicemail and Google's Call Screen.
A key aspect of this development is the commitment to privacy. The transcription process will not transmit audio recordings to Meta servers or external cloud services. Instead, WhatsApp will utilize on-device language models, performing voice processing directly on the user's phone to maintain end-to-end encryption. This method is already used for transcribing voice messages within chats.
However, users in Israel will face a limitation during the initial rollout, as the feature will only support English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian. Hebrew is not included in the initial language list, meaning the live transcription will primarily be useful for international calls or calls from speakers of supported foreign languages. The feature is still in internal development and is expected to be gradually expanded to all devices and more languages in the future.