WhatsApp is introducing a significant new capability for iPhone users: the ability to create and interact with third-party AI agents directly within the messaging application. This feature, currently undergoing beta testing on iOS, aims to integrate AI assistance into daily conversations, offering users tools for tasks like planning, organizing activities, or drafting messages.
How WhatsApp AI Agents Will Work
As spotted in WhatsApp beta for iOS version 26.37.10.70, users will reportedly be able to set up to five distinct AI agents from within WhatsApp settings. Each agent can be customized with a name and profile picture. Upon creation, WhatsApp will generate an API key, which users can then connect to a service hosted by a developer. Once linked, the agent will appear as a regular contact in WhatsApp.
It's important to note that these agents will only have access to the messages and content users explicitly choose to share with them. Personal chats, contacts, and other media on the device will remain inaccessible. The platform also allows for the creation of regular bots through this feature, not just AI-powered ones.
Privacy Implications and Rollout Status
The most critical aspect of this new feature is its privacy limitation: chats with third-party AI agents will not benefit from WhatsApp's signature end-to-end encryption (E2EE). This is because external developers operate the agents, and Meta, WhatsApp's parent company, handles these messages. Furthermore, the disappearing messages feature will also be unavailable for these agent conversations.
Users will have the option to disconnect an agent or change its connection by resetting the API key. The feature is currently available to a limited group of beta testers in select countries. While WhatsApp is reportedly working on a similar feature for Android, no official timeline has been confirmed for a wider public rollout to all users.