WhatsApp Unveils Private ‘Incognito’ AI Chats Hidden Even From Meta

Whatsapp.com has launched a new “incognito” mode for conversations with its AI chatbot, introducing private chats that neither users nor the company itself will be able to retrieve once they disappear.

The new feature means interactions with Meta Platforms’s AI assistant on WhatsApp will not be stored or monitored when the privacy setting is activated, according to the company.

Speaking on the development, WhatsApp chief Will Cathcart said many users wanted the freedom to discuss sensitive issues such as health, finances and relationships with AI tools without concerns about data retention or surveillance.

Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg described the feature as the “first major AI product where there is no log of your conversations stored on servers.”

The company clarified that the technology powering the feature differs from WhatsApp’s standard end-to-end encryption system used for personal messages, though Cathcart said it offers a comparable level of privacy protection.

However, cybersecurity experts have raised concerns over accountability and transparency.

Alan Woodward, a professor at the University of Surrey, warned that the inability to retrieve chats could create challenges if users suffer harm from misleading or dangerous AI responses.

According to him, while users deserve privacy when discussing personal matters with AI systems, the disappearance of chats could make it impossible to investigate cases involving harmful advice or alleged misuse.

The concerns come amid increasing scrutiny of AI firms, including lawsuits faced by companies such as openai.com and google.com over claims linked to chatbot interactions.

WhatsApp said the incognito mode will initially support only text-based conversations, while Meta AI’s existing safety guardrails would continue to block requests considered harmful or illegal.

The rollout also highlights Meta’s broader AI ambitions. The company reportedly plans to spend about $145 billion on AI infrastructure in 2026 as it seeks to strengthen its dominance in digital advertising and online commerce.

Investment analyst Susannah Streeter said investors remain cautious about the scale of Meta’s AI spending, though the company believes the investment will eventually generate significant returns across its platforms, including facebook.com and instagram.com.