Digital media platforms seem convinced that we all need ways to make ourselves sound smarter or more interesting than we are, which appears to be one of the more frequent suggested uses of AI, based on the tools they’re making available in their apps.

The latest variation of this comes from WhatsApp, which now has a new AI writing assistant option, which can make your messages more interesting. Or something.

As you can see in this example, WhatsApp’s new “Writing Help” provides AI-powered suggestions on how you might want to improve your communication.

As explained by WhatsApp:

“Sometimes you know what you want to say, but just need a little help with how to say it. That’s why today we’re introducing ‘Writing Help,’ our latest AI feature powered by Private Processing, which keeps your messages completely private. You can review the suggestions from AI in various styles such as professional, funny, or supportive that you can select or continue editing to deliver that perfect message.”

So now, if you don’t know how to say something, you can just get AI to simulate a tone, in order to make messages appear more funny, or more smart, or more thoughtful.

Which seems to be counterintuitive for a social tool, which, you would assume, would be focused on actual human connection. But I guess, if people use it…

Various platforms now have the same, in AI options and tools that can effectively simulate an alternate personality for you, so if you’re boring, and/or emotionally detached, and/or illiterate, you can just ask a machine to come up with responses that will make you sound like somebody else.

I don’t know, I don’t get it. DMs, in particular, should be about personal connection, and being who you are with the people you know, but again, if people use these options, I guess they make sense.

To try out WhatsApp’s new “Writing Help,” you’ll be able to tap the new pencil icon in the composer.

Source link

The post WhatsApp Adds AI-Powered Suggestions for DMs appeared first on LemonFire.

WhatsApp’s adding some new collaboration features to help expand its potential usage, including group call scheduling, call link notifications and in-chat signals for contributors.

First off, on call scheduling. Now, WhatsApp users can schedule calls, and invite people or groups to join in advance, by pressing the “+” button in the “Calls” tab.

As you can see in this example, now, you can schedule group chats in the app, which will make it easier to organize in-stream connections and maximize WhatsApp for expanded purpose.

And given that more and more people are coming to the app, that could be a valuable alternative, providing another way to conduct meetings on people’s preferred platform.   

As explained by WhatsApp:

“You can see and manage all your upcoming calls in the Calls tab, alongside a list of attendees and call links to add to your personal calendar or share with others. Helpfully, all participants will receive a notification when a call is about to begin.”

And if you are conducting group meetings in WhatsApp, participants will also be able to signal their intent to contribute, with a new “Raise hand” option in-stream.

That’s similar to other group chat tools, like Zoom and X Spaces, giving attendees an opportunity to engage, and enabling organizers to better manage the conversation.

And as you can see in the example screen, WhatsApp’s also added emoji reactions as well.

Finally, WhatsApp’s also updated its call links:

“Now, as a call link creator, you’ll receive notifications when someone joins.”

That could help you keep tabs on the conversation and ensure all attendees are welcomed, while also giving you more feedback on attendees and absences.

Some interesting updates, which could help to make WhatsApp a more valuable, viable option for group meetings, even for professional use cases along the same lines.

Source link

The post WhatsApp Adds New Group Call Options appeared first on LemonFire.

As part of its continued attempts to reduce local reliance on foreign tech platforms, Russia has begun restricting calls on both WhatsApp and Telegram, in an effort, Russian authorities claim, to combat criminal activity.

Russian leaders claim that people are engaging in illegal behaviors in these apps, which are outside of the scope of what can be enforced by local police. As such, it’s looking to reduce their usage in the nation.

As per Russia’s communications regulator:

“We inform you that in order to combat criminals, in accordance with the materials of law enforcement agencies, measures are being taken to partially restrict calls in these foreign messengers. No other restrictions on their functionality are being introduced.”

Russian authorities claim that Telegram and WhatsApp have become the main services “through which Russians are deceived and extorted money from,” and that owners of these messaging apps have ignored “repeated demands to take countermeasures.” 

The broader scope here is that Russia is also developing its own messaging platform, which will essentially replicate these apps, but will be overseen by Russian authorities and will remain accessible to local law enforcement groups.

Back in June, Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized the development of its own, state-backed messaging app, which will be integrated with government services and will provide a more functional service to locals.

The restriction of WhatsApp and Telegram, the current messaging leaders in the nation, will push more people towards Russia’s own option, which will expand on the nation’s effort to separate itself from reliance on foreign-owned systems.

As reported by Reuters:

“Russia has clashed with foreign tech platforms for several years over content and data storage in a simmering dispute that intensified after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with critics saying that Russia is trying to expand its control over the country’s internet space.”

The latest shift towards “digital sovereignty” is another effort to effectively maintain control over local communications, and ensure that Russian authorities are able to police illegal activity, while also better controlling the flow of information.

Russia’s not the only nation to question the security of such apps, with U.K. leaders also raising significant concerns about the shift to encrypted messaging, which effectively eliminates police enforcement of any activity facilitated within such services.

So it’s not a Russia-specific concern, but Russia is the only nation making such a significant push to force users out of these apps.

In response, WhatsApp has released the following:

“WhatsApp is private, end-to-end encrypted, and defies government attempts to violate people’s right to secure communication, which is why Russia is trying to block it from over 100 million Russian people. We will keep doing all we can to make end-to-end encrypted communication available to people everywhere, including in Russia.”

I’m not sure that’s going to ingratiate WhatsApp with Russian authorities, but no doubt Meta will keep the pressure on, in an effort to maintain connection in the region.

Source link

The post Russia Restricts WhatsApp and Telegram Usage appeared first on LemonFire.