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New WhatsApp head wants to make the app easier to use, give its AI more chops

By · Via TechCrunch · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The platform is refocusing on its core interface to make stickers, groups, voice notes, and video interactions simpler and more expressive for everyday communication. Beyond basic interface cleanups, WhatsApp is working with external telecommunications and financial services to allow users to buy eSIMs, apply for loans, and settle bills without leaving their message threads. Planned artificial intelligence upgrades will move beyond drafting text to actively managing bookings and tracking appointments in the background. Despite these extensive functional additions, the platform confirmed that its foundational end-to-end encryption for personal calls and messages will stay intact.

Key points

  • Future artificial intelligence updates will automatically track user appointments and man…: Future artificial intelligence updates will automatically track user appointments and manage bookings in the background.
  • WhatsApp plans to simplify core messaging tools such as groups, video, stickers, and voic…: WhatsApp plans to simplify core messaging tools such as groups, video, stickers, and voice notes.
  • The company confirmed that end-to-end encryption for all personal messages and calls will…: The company confirmed that end-to-end encryption for all personal messages and calls will remain strictly unchanged.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

WhatsApp has grown into one of the most popular messaging apps in the world, used by over 3 billion people. But with that growth, the app has also become complex, packing in features like communities, channels, stories and business features, and a lot of people find it hard to navigate.

Kunal Shah, who took over leadership of the app’s development from Will Cathcart earlier this year, now wants to make the app and actions within it simpler to use. In a new note shared on Tuesday, Shah said the company wants to make voice notes, groups, stickers, and video “simpler and more expressive.”

WhatsApp has long also tried to develop an ecosystem that lets users explore products and make purchases, and Shah’s note indicates more of that is coming, hinting at partnerships with payment companies and telecom providers to enable bill payment, loans, and eSIM purchases.

Shah also said the company wants to use AI to surface important information to users.

“It should quickly find what you need, get things done, and make sure you never miss a booking or…

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