AI scanning chats? WhatsApp responds after Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma's warning

WhatsApp has introduced a host of new features in its latest update, but tucked away among them is a change that could allow artificial intelligence tools to access your chats.

Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma flagged the update on X, cautioning users: “IMP: If you are part of a WhatsApp group, from today onwards WhatsApp is allowing AI to read chats. Enable this setting to block it.”

Sharma also shared screenshots guiding users on how to disable the option and how to turn on Advanced Chat Privacy for extra protection.

WhatsApp issues clarification

Meanwhile, WhatsApp in a statement said that the Meta AI option is optional and it can only read what users share with it.

"Your personal messages on WhatsApp are always protected by end-to-end encryption so that only you and the people you chat with can read or share them. Meta AI on WhatsApp is completely optional and, if you choose to message or invoke Meta AI in your chats, it can only read what you share with it," a spokesperson of WhatsApp told ET.

New WhatsApp features

Alongside the AI-linked update, WhatsApp announced several new tools:

Schedule group calls: Users can now plan group calls in advance by tapping the + button in the Calls tab → selecting Schedule Call → inviting participants. Attendees receive a reminder before the call begins.

Call management: All upcoming calls can be tracked in the Calls tab, and the person who created the call link will be notified when someone joins.

Interactive tools: Features like “raise hand” and reactions aim to make group calls more engaging.

These updates build on Meta’s recent push to integrate AI into WhatsApp, including Message Summaries, which automatically generate quick recaps of unread chats using Meta AI.

According to AFP, Meta is also preparing to roll out new monetisation features within the Updates tab, including paid channel subscriptions, promoted channels in the Discovery directory, and ads inside Status.