WhatsApp is simplifying the process for channel admins to label posts generated by AI.

      Not every image shared in your preferred channel is as authentic as it appears.

      Rachit Agarwal / Digital Trends

      WhatsApp has previously allowed channel admins to indicate sponsored posts with a paid partnership label, a feature that began rolling out last month on both Android and iOS. Now, the app is developing a similar functionality specifically for AI-generated content. This initiative aims to inform followers when a photo or video was not taken with a camera but created using AI.

      How will the new AI label function?

      WaBetaInfo has identified this feature in the WhatsApp beta for Android, version 2.26.31.1, available on the Google Play Store. Once activated, admins will have the option to tap and hold an update featuring AI-generated media to access the context menu, where a new "Add AI content label" will be available.

      By selecting this option, a visible tag will be attached to the message bubble, notifying followers that they are viewing AI-generated content. After the label is added, it seems that admins won't be able to remove it, so it's advisable to confirm before sharing.

      However, not all content requires the label. Standard text messages, even those created with WhatsApp's Writing Help tool, appear to be exempt from this rule.

      Why is this AI label important for admins?

      It turns out that the necessity of this label extends beyond being a responsible digital user. Numerous countries now have regulations mandating apps to disclose AI-generated media, and this label provides admins an uncomplicated way to ensure compliance without additional complications. Importantly, the label does not favor any specific tool; whether an image is made using Meta AI, ChatGPT, Gemini, or any other platform, the label is applied uniformly.

      Meta

      Currently, this feature is still in development within the Android beta, and testers do not have access to it yet. WhatsApp is also working on implementing this label for iOS, ensuring it won’t remain an Android-only feature for long. There is no indication yet on when it will be publicly released, but we will continue to monitor the situation.

      Rachit is an experienced tech journalist with over a decade of expertise in the consumer technology field.

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