WhatsApp is developing a privacy-focused Incognito Mode for its Meta AI chatbot, a feature discovered in a recent Android beta version. The function is designed to allow users to have confidential conversations without their query history being recorded for later reference.
The new functionality was identified by the feature tracker WABetaInfo within the WhatsApp beta for Android, version 2.25.28.1. According to the report, the feature is currently in a developmental stage and is not yet accessible to beta testers. Its design is intended to resemble the private browsing modes found on other platforms, such as Google Chrome’s Incognito Mode and Safari’s Private Browsing. The feature is expected to be released in a future update to the instant messaging application.
At present, conversations with the Meta AI chatbot allow the application to record data for future reference. The introduction of Incognito Mode would alter this process. When enabled, Meta AI would be prevented from using conversation data for the purpose of training its models or personalizing the user experience. According to information shared by WABetaInfo, this change is intended to provide users with greater control over their personal data while enhancing the confidentiality of their interactions with the AI.
The mode incorporates specific mechanisms to protect user privacy. When a user closes a chat window while Incognito Mode is active, all queries made to the chatbot during that session are automatically deleted. This allows for inquiries into what the source describes as “sensitive topics” without creating a permanent record. Upon activation, the application displays a prompt to the user, warning that for future chatbot conversations, there will be “no personalisation, no history, and no memory.”
The control for activating the feature is integrated into the existing user interface for the AI chatbot. The button to enable Incognito Mode is located within the options window for Meta AI. This places the new toggle alongside the current options, which allow a user to either initiate a new conversation with the chatbot or access and view previous chats.