- WhatsApp is preparing a label to mark posts from channels created or edited with artificial intelligence.
- The feature is already available in the beta version for Android and iOS, according to WABetaInfo.
- The label will be irreversible and will apply to any AI tool, not just Meta AI.
- The platform will also be able to automatically detect synthetic content and add the warning.
Artificial intelligence has permeated our daily lives to the point that we no longer know if a photo, video, or message we receive is real or has been generated by a machine. This uncertainty has also reached WhatsApp, where increasingly more synthetic content that appears authentic is circulating. To curb this, the messaging platform is finalizing a new tool that will alert users when a channel's post has been created or edited using AI.
According to the specialized website WABetaInfo, the feature has already begun rolling out to some users participating in the Android and iOS beta programs. The idea is that channel administrators can explicitly mark media files that have used artificial intelligence, whether to generate them from scratch or to modify them. This way, followers will always know which content is artificial and which is not.
A mandatory and irreversible label
The process is simple yet effective. When an administrator posts an image, video, or other multimedia content that has been created or modified using AI, they must press and hold the post and select the "Add AI content tag" option . By doing so, all channel followers will see a permanent notification in the bottom left corner of the post, right next to the view count and timestamp.
The most striking feature is that the label cannot be removed once applied . WhatsApp has designed the system to prevent loopholes: no administrator will be able to label content to temporarily comply with the rule and then delete the warning. Furthermore, the platform will also have the ability to automatically detect synthetic content and add the warning on its own, without requiring any action from the creator.
Another important detail is that the obligation is not limited to creations made with Meta AI . If an administrator uses ChatGPT, Gemini, Midjourney, or any other generative tool to create or make minor adjustments to a file, they must also declare it. The rule is universal and does not distinguish between different tools.
A legal push and a phased rollout
Behind this update lies a strong legal component. A growing number of countries are passing regulations demanding absolute transparency regarding artificial intelligence. In fact, the application's interface itself will display a warning reminding administrators that their country's legislation requires them to label these types of posts. This ensures that no one inadvertently violates the rule.
For now, the AI-generated content label is only available to a limited group of testers enrolled in the WhatsApp beta program for Android through the Google Play Store. The rollout will be gradual for all users over the coming weeks, before its final release in the global stable version. While there's no confirmed date, it seems likely that the feature will arrive on all devices soon.
This new feature joins other recent initiatives from Meta to provide users with more context, such as markers for paid collaborations. The company is making it clear that transparency about the origin of content is a priority , and this label is just the first step in a broader strategy to combat misinformation and scams on WhatsApp and the fake news that spreads through the app.
Ultimately, WhatsApp wants users to always know what's behind each post. With this label, channels using artificial intelligence will be clearly and irreversibly identified, helping to reduce doubts and encourage more responsible use of technology. Although it's still some time before it reaches everyone, the feature is already up and running and promises to change the way we consume content on the platform.
