Although the first introduction of Meta AI on WhatsApp dates back to 2023, many people are only seeing the chatbot pop up now. With little to no options to delete it from your phone, we looked at what it is and how it can be useful in your daily life and travels.
In short, Meta AI is Meta’s answer to ChatGPT operating on Llama 4. The chatbot is automatically integrated into the most recent versions of WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, showing up like any other all-too-present contact in your list. According to the company, the feature can be used to have a conversation with Meta AI, to ask questions, to create AI-generated messages and more.
However, quite a lot of people on the internet are not happy with the new addition. Meta gives no real option for users to delete the chatbot from their applications, leaving many of them angry and worried about what the AI might do with their messages. According to Meta, the AI does not have access to the content of your messages. That is until you ask the chatbot for help. While all messages to ‘normal’ people in your contact list remain. end-to-end encrypted, conversations with Meta AI are not.
If you want to delete Meta AI from your phone, you currently have two options. Some people indicate the feature isn’t yet present on WhatsApp Business, an alternative version of the messaging app developed for business owners. Others suggest installing an older version of the Meta apps in order to avoid the chatbot. However, both options seem to be a temporary solution as the older versions won’t be available forever and as some users indicate Meta AI has already arrived on their WhatsApp Business app as well.
How to use Meta AI when travelling?
Those who live according to the ‘if you can’t beat them, join them’ principle could also just accept the new feature and make the most of it. Amongst other things, Meta AI can very well be used to make your travel experience a little more convenient. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when using it to prepare for your next journey.
At the moment, Meta AI seems to be mainly useful for the more timeless part of a trip. When asking the chatbot to deliver an itinerary or a list of things to do at a certain location, the results aren’t bad. Asking it to make a packing list for a particular destination, too, is a good way to use the AI.
However, the chatbot doesn’t seem to be very good at searching for flights, hotels or even restaurants. Some of the restaurants it suggests aren’t open any longer and the provided links to their websites often don’t work. Looking for flights and hotels seems to be too time-bound at the moment, making competitors such as ChatGPT a better option for travel research. Moreover, given the ecological footprint of AI searches, sustainable-minded travellers are better off using other tools when planning their next trip.
