WhatsApp’s New AI Avatars Will Set it Apart from OpenAI and Google

WhatsApp’s anticipated AI avatar feature would allow users to create virtual representations of themselves to place in AI-generated images, potentially setting it apart from competitors like Google and OpenAI that have been reluctant to offer such capabilities.

Key details of WhatsApp’s AI avatar feature: The messaging service is developing a feature that would let users upload photos of themselves to generate an AI avatar that can be inserted into various virtual settings based on text prompts:

• Users would provide some reference photos and Meta’s Llama AI model would create the avatars
• The feature is currently in beta testing for a limited group of Android users, with wider availability timeline unclear
• WhatsApp recently added AI-powered custom sticker creation, making avatars a logical next step

Contrasting approach to AI avatars: WhatsApp’s plans stand in contrast to the more cautious stance taken by major AI players like OpenAI and Google when it comes to generating images of real people:

• ChatGPT and Google Gemini generally avoid creating avatars of specific individuals, favoring character likenesses or similar outfits instead
• Google recently made it easier to request takedowns of unauthorized AI deepfakes on YouTube, prioritizing privacy and security

Implications and considerations for WhatsApp: Offering AI avatars as an opt-in feature could prove popular among WhatsApp’s user base, but will require robust privacy and data handling measures:

• Clear user controls and secure data practices will be essential to protect user likenesses
• Testing the feature first on WhatsApp could pave the way for a broader rollout across Meta’s family of apps
• Establishing itself as a leader in AI avatars could help WhatsApp differentiate itself in the competitive messaging space

Looking ahead: As WhatsApp continues developing its AI avatar capabilities, it will need to strike a careful balance between innovation and responsibility. Providing an engaging feature that lets users express themselves in new ways, while maintaining strong safeguards against misuse, will be key to the success and reception of this anticipated offering. WhatsApp’s approach could influence how other platforms handle the increasingly prevalent issue of AI-generated representations of real people moving forward.