WhatsApp’s recent reports unveil exciting developments within the messaging giant’s arsenal, catering to both global financial transactions and creative expression. WhatsApp is reportedly delving into the realm of international payments, specifically targeting Indian users with a potential integration of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
Simultaneously, whispers of an AI-powered image editor and the intriguing Ask Meta AI feature have piqued curiosity among users worldwide.
Join us as we delve into these forthcoming features and their implications for WhatsApp’s ever-expanding ecosystem.
WhatsApp Reportedly Testing International Payments via UPI for Indian Users
WhatsApp could be working on enabling international payments via its in-app Unified Payments Interface (UPI) service, as per a new leak.
As WhatsApp Payments or WhatsApp Pay was first introduce for Indian users as an in-app service in November 2020.
The platform’s entry into the payments sector was consider delay as rival platforms were already establish by then.
Now, WhatsApp is tip to add international payments with a limit of up to three months in order to boost the user base of its financial service.
The information about the feature was share by tipster who said in a post on X (formerly known as Twitter) :
“International Payments on WhatsApp through UPI for Indian users. This is currently not available for users. But WhatsApp might be working on it as I couldn't find anything on Google about it.”
The tipster also share screenshots of the feature but did not reveal which beta version added it.
In the screenshot, a new option can be seen in the Payments menu underneath the Forgot UPI PIN option.
This feature is labell International payments and when click, it opens a separate screen where users can choose the start and end dates for the feature and turn it on.
As per the screenshot, users will be require to enter the UPI PIN to turn on the feature.
International payments allow users with an Indian bank account to send money to select international merchants and complete transactions.
This feature will only work in countries where banks have enable international UPI services.
In India, international payment via UPI automatically expires, after which it needs to be activate manually again.
As per the tipster, this period in WhatsApp could be three months.
In contrast, Google Pay offers a transaction period of 7 days.
As Google Pay, PhonePe, and some other major players in the UPI space already offer the service.
WhatsApp Spotted Working on AI-Powered Image Editor, Ask Meta AI Feature
WhatsApp is currently working on a feature that will let users edit their images using an editing tool that is power by artificial intelligence (AI), according to details share by a feature tracker.
Users might be able to quickly modify an image’s background, restyle it, or ‘expand’ it using AI, when the feature is roll out to users in the future.
Meanwhile, WhatsApp is also working on a feature that will let users ask questions to the company’s ‘Meta AI’ service directly from the search bar.
According to feature tracker, a feature tracker with a good track record of unearthing new features on the messaging app before they are roll out, the latest WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.7.13 update contains code for an AI-power image editor.
The feature, which is still in development, cannot currently be test by users who have sign up to receive beta versions of the app.
In a screenshot, an early version of the feature is visible on the interface that is shown when sending images on WhatsApp for Android.
A green icon at the top, to the left of the HD icon is visible, and tapping it displays three options Backdrop, Restyle, and Expand.
As the feature is still being develop, it is currently unclear what each of these features does.
While, the more recent WhatsApp beta for Android 2.24.7.14 version contains details of another feature discover by feature tracker.
The feature tracker has spotted the ability to use the search bar at the top of the app to ask queries to Meta AI, the Meta’s generative AI assistant for Meta products design to compete with OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
It’s worth noting that both these features are still being develop so you won’t be able to test them out, even after updating to the latest version of the app.
These features are likely to be refine and improve, then roll out to testers on the beta channel, before they are roll out to all users.
They are also expect to make their way to users on iOS, providing feature parity across both mobile platforms.
