AI-generated photos and videos are becoming harder to identify.
Now, WhatsApp is testing a new feature that could help users know when Channel content has been created or edited using artificial intelligence.
The Meta-owned platform is testing an AI content label for WhatsApp Channels on iPhone.
The feature will allow Channel admins to tell followers when the media they post has been generated or modified using AI.
For now, the feature is available only to a limited group of iOS beta testers through the TestFlight programme.
It has reportedly appeared in WhatsApp for iOS version 26.34.10.70.
What Is the New WhatsApp AI Label?
The new label will work as a disclosure tool for content shared on WhatsApp Channels.
Channel admins will be able to mark images, videos and other media as AI-generated or AI-edited.
This could be especially useful for creators, publishers, businesses and organisations that regularly post visual content.
The feature is also not limited to Meta’s own AI tools.
Admins can use the label for content created or edited with any AI tool, including third-party services.
How Can Channel Admins Add the Label?
The option is expected to appear in the menu linked to a Channel update.
After sharing eligible media, an admin can reportedly choose “Add AI content label” and indicate whether the content was created or edited using AI.
Once the label is added, it will be attached to that particular post.
There is one important catch: the AI label cannot be removed after it has been added.
This could prevent admins from disclosing AI use initially and then removing the disclosure later.
WhatsApp May Also Detect AI Content Automatically
WhatsApp may not depend entirely on admins to add these labels.
The company is also reportedly working on technology that could automatically detect some AI-generated media and add an appropriate label.
This could be useful when admins forget to disclose that they used AI.
However, automatic detection may not catch every AI-generated image or video.
As AI tools become better at producing realistic content, identifying it reliably is becoming increasingly difficult.
That means manual labelling could still remain important for Channel owners.
Which AI Tools Can Be Labelled?
The feature is not expected to be restricted to one particular AI service.
Content created or edited using different AI platforms can potentially be labelled.
This could include tools such as Meta AI, ChatGPT and Google Gemini, along with other generative AI services.
This is particularly useful because creators often use more than one AI tool while making an image, video or other piece of content.
Why Is WhatsApp Adding AI Labels?
The rise of generative AI has made it difficult to tell whether some online content is real or artificially created.
An image may look like a genuine photograph even though it was completely generated by AI. Similarly, AI editing can make major changes to an existing video without those changes being obvious.
The new label is designed to give users more context.
Importantly, an AI label does not automatically mean that the content is fake or misleading.
For example, a publisher could use AI to create an illustration for an educational article.
The information may be completely accurate, even though the image itself was generated using AI.
The same can apply to businesses and creators using AI for creative purposes.
Will Everyone Get the Feature?
Not yet.
The AI content label is currently being tested with a limited number of iPhone beta users. Simply installing the latest WhatsApp version does not guarantee that the feature will appear.
WhatsApp is expected to monitor the test, fix potential problems and gradually expand the feature if testing goes well.
There is currently no confirmed date for a wider rollout.
WhatsApp has already been testing a similar AI labelling feature on Android, so the iOS test suggests the company is working toward broader AI content disclosure across its platforms.
WhatsApp AI Content Label: Key Details
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Platform | WhatsApp Channels |
| Device | iPhone |
| Availability | Selected iOS beta testers |
| Beta version | WhatsApp for iOS 26.34.10.70 |
| Content covered | Images, videos and other media |
| Manual labelling | Yes |
| Automatic detection | Possible for some AI content |
| AI tools covered | Any AI tool |
| Can the label be removed? | No |
| Wider rollout | Not confirmed |
What Will Change for WhatsApp Users?
For people using WhatsApp mainly for private chats, there may be little immediate difference.
The bigger change will be seen by people who follow WhatsApp Channels and by admins who regularly publish content.
As the feature expands, users may start seeing more labels indicating that an image or video was generated or edited using AI.
But there is an important point to remember: no AI label does not necessarily mean the content is real.
AI detection is not perfect, and the feature is still under development.
The label should be treated as a transparency tool, not as a guarantee that a post is authentic or factually correct.
What Happens Next?
WhatsApp is expected to continue testing the feature before deciding on a wider release.
If the testing is successful, more iPhone users could eventually get the option to identify AI-generated and AI-edited content on Channels.
With AI becoming a bigger part of everyday content creation, such labels could soon become a common sight across social media and messaging platforms.
For now, only selected iOS beta testers can access the feature, while other iPhone users will have to wait for a broader rollout.
