WhatsApp introduced a new artificial intelligence (AI)-based feature called Message Summaries in a move to help users catch up on long threads of unread messages. The parent company, Meta AI, has designed it to condense lengthy chats into digestible bullet points, all while keeping privacy at the forefront.

AI That Summarises, Without Reading

The Message Summaries feature allows users to receive quick recaps of unread messages in both individual and group chats. When a user taps the Unread Messages icon within a chat, Meta AI generates a summarised view in a bullet-point format—marked clearly as “visible only to you.” WhatsApp has emphasised that this feature is completely optional and disabled by default, giving users the freedom to opt in only if they wish.

Tech Behind the Privacy Promise

What sets this feature apart is WhatsApp’s use of an innovative security approach called Private Processing. According to Meta, this new tech ensures that the actual content of messages, as well as the generated summaries, remains inaccessible to everyone—including WhatsApp, Meta, or even the AI model itself. The Private Processing is built on the Trusted Execution Environment (TEE), a secure cloud-based computing structure which allows users to interact with AI tools without compromising their data- thanks to a strict set of design principles and protective barriers.

Also Read: Buzzing Into Battle: China’s Micro Drone Raises Global Eyebrows

Breaking Down Private Processing

Meta outlines three key pillars behind the Private Processing framework. First is confidential processing, which ensures that user data cannot be accessed while it is being transmitted or processed—not by Meta, nor by any third-party service.

The second pillar is enforceable guarantees. In cases where a malicious actor tries to interfere with the confidentiality of the system, it either halts operations entirely or flags the changes publicly through verifiable transparency. 

Furthermore, Meta has made the system auditable—allowing users and security researchers to verify the privacy standards claimed. The framework also enforces non-targetability, stateless processing, and forward security, all of which are essential to protecting user data in real time and future-proofing it from threats.

Also Read: Elon Musk’s Brain Chip Tricks Monkey Into Seeing Things

Availability & Future Rollout

As of now, Message Summaries are being rolled out to users in the United States in English, with plans to extend the feature to additional languages and regions later this year. Additionally, users can leverage Advanced Chat Privacy settings to select which parts of a conversation they want to be summarised, offering even more control. With this feature, WhatsApp isn’t just enhancing convenience—it’s also making a strong statement about user privacy in the age of AI.