WhatsApp tests AI-generated stickers from text prompts
Meta is bringing generative AI to daily chats, rolling out an experimental feature in WhatsApp's Android beta that turns brief text descriptions into custom stickers. Instead of hunting through sticker packs, testers can hit a new "Create" button and get tailored options. It's slated for a wider rollout in the coming weeks.
Meta is quietly bringing generative AI directly into your keyboard.
According to WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is rolling out a new AI-powered sticker generator in its latest Android beta (v2.23.17.14). Instead of endlessly scrolling through static packs to find the right meme, users can now generate custom stickers just by typing a prompt.
Prompt to sticker in seconds
The feature is currently available to a small group of Android beta testers, with a wider rollout expected in the coming weeks.
Testers will find a new "Create" button inside the keyboard sticker tab. Once you type a brief description of what you want, WhatsApp generates a selection of stickers tailored to your mood or context, ready to send instantly.
Under the hood, WABetaInfo says the tool runs on secure technology provided by Meta, though the specific AI image model has not been disclosed.
To keep things clean, any AI-generated sticker sent in a chat will reportedly carry a visible label or overlay so recipients know how it was made. Users can also report offensive or harmful generations directly to Meta.
Why it matters
We think this is one of Meta's smartest product integrations for generative AI so far.
Most consumers still see generative AI as a standalone novelty rather than an everyday utility. Prompting DALL-E or Midjourney takes friction and intent. By tucking an AI image maker right into the chat bar, WhatsApp removes every barrier to entry. If you can text, you can prompt.
It also gives WhatsApp a badly needed cultural boost. Rivals like Telegram and Line built massive engagement around playful sticker ecosystems, an area where WhatsApp has historically lagged. Giving over two billion users the ability to spin up personalized memes on demand instantly closes that gap.
The real test will be latency and moderation. A sticker is only fun if it generates within a second or two during a fast-moving conversation. Meta also has to ensure that weird hallucinations or harmful content do not slip through encrypted chats undetected. If it is fast and well-guarded, this could quickly become the default way billions of people experience generative AI for the first time.
Sources (1)
- androidcentral.com(opens in a new tab)Originalandroidcentral.com