WhatsApp’s recent Android betas, as spotted by WBI, have started to show signs of new features. These include reminders for specific messages, a hands-free voice interface for Meta AI, and a more flexible way to share profile updates that vanish on their own.
Message Reminders May Soon Help You Catch Up
People often glance at a message, tell themselves they’ll reply later, and then forget it entirely. That’s the problem WhatsApp seems to be targeting in its latest test.
Inside a recent beta version, there’s now a feature that lets users add a timed reminder to any single message. Long-press it, tap the new “Remind me” option, and you’ll get a few timer choices, two hours, eight, maybe a full day. There’s a custom one too, if you want to pick your own delay.
After that, the message gets marked with a small bell icon. When the timer runs out, WhatsApp sends a notification with the content and who it’s from. It behaves like a regular message alert, just more deliberate.
There’s also something else under testing. The app might gently nudge users when they’ve left messages from frequently contacted people unread. No pinning, no starring. Just a push when it thinks you’ve missed something that usually matters.
Meta AI Can Now Talk Back with Voice
Some beta users are starting to see an option to speak directly with Meta AI. This isn’t a text chat. It’s more like a call, the AI listens, talks back, and keeps going even while you use other apps.
The update appears in version 2.25.21.21, where Meta AI gets its own voice interface. It’s accessible through the Chats tab, but also shows up in Calls. If you open it from there, the voice session begins on its own. That makes it quicker to get started without tapping extra buttons.
While talking, you can pause the mic, collapse the session, or shut it down completely. There’s a way to send a photo mid-conversation too. The app throws in a few suggestions to help you start if you’re not sure what to ask.
Voice sessions stay active if you move around the phone. You could open your Notes app, read something out loud, and get feedback from the AI in real time. Android shows its standard green mic indicator when the system’s listening, so there’s no confusion about when your voice is being picked up.
Status Texts That Expire After a While Are Back
Two years ago, WhatsApp was spotted working on a temporary status feature in the “About” section. It went quiet after that. Now it’s back, and this time it looks closer to release.
The new version lets users set a short message in their profile that disappears after a few hours or days. You can pick from preset durations, and a custom option is also in the works.
This note, once added, doesn’t just sit on the profile page. It also shows up in the chat window, under the name of the person you’re messaging. That makes it easier for others to catch it in passing.
It’s a subtle way to update contacts without making anything permanent. Weekend trips, moods, short events, you add the note, and it cleans itself up after the time runs out. Only the people you’ve allowed in your privacy settings will see it.
No official release yet, but it’s back in development. And judging from how polished it looks now, it may not be far off.
Notes: This post was edited/created using GenAI tools.
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