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Wed, 13 May 2026

Wed, 13 May 2026 WhatsApp launches totally private 'incognito' conversations with its AI chatbot

A cyber security expert says deleting chat history could lead to a lack of accountability if things go wrong.

* WhatsApp has introduced a new "incognito" mode for its AI chatbot, where conversations will be private and unmonitored by both users and Meta.
* The feature allows users to have sensitive conversations with AI without being recorded or stored on servers.
* Meta's head of WhatsApp, Will Cathcart, said the company wants to provide users with a safe space to discuss personal topics like health, relationships, and finances.
* However, cyber security expert Prof Alan Woodward has raised concerns that this feature could lead to a lack of accountability for WhatsApp if things go wrong.
* The incognito mode will only process text messages initially and Meta AI's guardrails will err on the side of caution when refusing to answer requests that could be interpreted as harmful or illegal.
* The move is seen by some as an effort by Meta to increase user trust and engagement with its AI products, which have reached a billion users across its apps.