WhatsApp Tests AI Status Editing Tools and Recent Group Chat History

WhatsApp appears to be readying a new update to make the platform more creative and easier to use. The company is testing two new features in its beta program: one that brings AI editing tools for status updates, and another that lets new group members see recent chat history. Both features should hit the stable channel in the coming weeks.

What’s new in recent beta versions of WhatsApp

In the latest beta version 2.25.36.12 (Android), WhatsApp has brought a new AI editing tool to the status update screen. Powered by Meta AI, this feature has replaced the previous Filters button with an Effects label. Inside this section, the app offers a bunch of AI-powered styles that change the look of an image. These include 3D, Collage, Anime, Paper, Illustrated, Low Poly, Cartoon, Goth, Art Deco, Cinema, and Watercolor.

Apart from adding new styles, the AI tools let you make bigger changes to the photo. You can add objects or decorations to a picture and remove messy backgrounds. If you want a completely fresh look, you can do so with a short text prompt. Another ability is to animate a photo, turning a still image into a short moving clip for eye-catching status updates.

Meanwhile, in beta version 2.25.36.11 (Android), WhatsApp is testing a feature to make group chats easier to follow. The app introduces a recent chat history sharing, letting new members see messages from the previous 24 hours as soon as they join. This eliminates the need to repeat important information or manually catch someone up.

If you are an admin, you will see a new option in the group permissions screen that lets you manage the feature. Note that WhatsApp will limit the shared history to 1,000 messages within the 24-hour period. The company may change these limitations in future builds depending on testing results.