Technology

WhatsApp tests a new label for AI-generated content in channels

08:51

By: Azzat Manal

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WhatsApp is reportedly developing a new feature that would allow channel administrators to identify images and videos created with artificial intelligence, giving users a clearer indication of whether visual content was produced by a person or generated digitally.

The planned feature is part of WhatsApp's broader efforts to improve transparency on its platform. It follows the recent introduction of a paid partnership label designed to help channel operators identify promotional content on Android and iOS.

According to reports from WhatsApp-focused technology sources, the AI content labeling option has appeared in a beta version of the Android application. If officially released, channel administrators would be able to select an image or video and add a specific label indicating that the media was generated using artificial intelligence.

The label would then be displayed alongside the publication, allowing followers to recognize that the visual material was not captured directly with a conventional camera. This could become increasingly important as AI-generated images and videos become more sophisticated and increasingly difficult to distinguish from authentic material.

Information about the feature suggests that removing the label after it has been applied may not be possible. Channel administrators would therefore need to verify the content before confirming the designation.

The planned system would focus specifically on visual media. Text messages would not receive the same label, even when they are produced with WhatsApp's integrated writing assistance tools.

The initiative could also help platform users and channel administrators respond to emerging regulations concerning AI-generated content. Several jurisdictions are introducing or considering rules requiring digital platforms to provide clearer disclosures when artificial intelligence has been used to create or significantly modify media.

The proposed labeling system would reportedly not be restricted to content produced by a particular AI service. Instead, it could apply broadly to images and videos generated through different artificial intelligence platforms, including Meta's own tools and other widely used AI services.

For WhatsApp, the move reflects a wider industry effort to establish clearer signals around synthetic media. As generative AI becomes more accessible, technology companies are increasingly exploring ways to help users understand the origin and authenticity of the content they encounter online.

The feature remains under development and is not yet generally available to WhatsApp users. A version for iOS is also reportedly being considered, but no official release date has been announced.