WhatsApp appears to be taking another step toward making AI-generated content easier to identify on its platform. The messaging service is reportedly testing a new AI content label for Channel updates on iOS, giving channel admins a way to disclose when an image, video or other media has been created or modified using artificial intelligence.
The feature is currently being spotted by a limited number of iOS beta testers and appears to follow a similar rollout that has already started on Android. If WhatsApp eventually makes it available more widely, the label could become particularly useful as AI-generated images and videos become increasingly difficult to distinguish from authentic content.
Here’s what the new feature is expected to do and how it could work for WhatsApp Channels.
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WhatsApp AI Content Label Comes to iOS Beta
According to a report from WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is testing the AI content label with selected iOS beta users through TestFlight version 26.34.10.70.
The feature is designed specifically for Channel admins. When posting an update containing AI-generated or AI-edited media, an admin could reportedly open the update’s context menu and select the option to mark the content as AI-generated.
Once the label is applied and confirmed, it reportedly cannot be removed from that particular update.
The disclosure would also be visible to people viewing the Channel, meaning followers would be able to tell that the media has been identified as AI-created or AI-modified.
How the AI Label Could Work
The process appears to be relatively straightforward.
A Channel admin would create or share an update as usual. If the update contains media produced or edited using AI, the admin could open the relevant menu and choose the AI content disclosure option.
After confirmation, WhatsApp would add the label to the update.
The label could cover different types of media, including images and videos, rather than being limited to content generated by a particular AI service.
This means content created or modified using tools such as Meta AI, ChatGPT, Gemini or other AI platforms could potentially be disclosed using the same feature.
WhatsApp Could Also Detect Some AI Content Automatically
Manual labelling may not be the only way WhatsApp handles AI-generated media.
The feature is reportedly capable of working alongside automatic detection, meaning WhatsApp could identify certain AI-generated or AI-edited media and apply the appropriate disclosure.
However, automatic detection isn’t expected to identify every piece of AI-generated content. That’s why giving Channel admins the ability to manually apply the label could be important.
It also puts some responsibility on publishers to be transparent about how their content was created.
AI Disclosure Could Be Important in Some Countries
One of the more interesting aspects of the feature is its potential connection with AI disclosure requirements.
Some countries and regions are introducing rules requiring certain AI-generated or manipulated content to be clearly identified. WhatsApp’s new Channel feature could help admins comply with those requirements when they apply.
According to the report, WhatsApp may show a banner at the top of the Channel interface when an account is operating in a country where AI disclosure is required.
The banner would reportedly appear only for accounts where the feature has been enabled.
This could make the feature more than just a transparency tool. For some Channel admins, it could eventually become part of their legal or platform-compliance responsibilities.
Followers Will Be Able to See the Label
The main purpose of the feature is transparency.
AI image and video generators have improved rapidly, and realistic synthetic media can sometimes be difficult to distinguish from genuine photographs or recordings.
By placing a visible disclosure on Channel updates, WhatsApp can give followers additional context before they assume that a piece of media represents something that actually happened.
The label is particularly relevant for Channels because they are increasingly being used by publishers, businesses, creators and organisations to distribute information to large audiences.
The Label Isn’t Limited to Meta AI
Another important detail is that the proposed system isn’t reportedly restricted to media created using Meta’s own AI tools.
Content generated or edited through third-party AI services could also qualify.
That means an image made with ChatGPT or Gemini, for example, could potentially be marked as AI-generated when it is shared through a WhatsApp Channel.
This approach makes the feature more useful because users are not limited to a single AI ecosystem.
Android Already Has a Similar Feature
WhatsApp has already been working on AI content labelling for Android, and the iOS testing appears to be an extension of the same functionality.
Bringing the feature to both major mobile platforms would allow WhatsApp to offer a more consistent approach to AI disclosures across its user base.
However, the iOS version is still in testing, so the final interface and functionality could change before a broader release.
When Will the Feature Reach All iPhone Users?
For now, the AI content label is reportedly available only to selected iOS beta testers.
WhatsApp has not announced a specific date for when the feature will become available to everyone.
The company could expand testing gradually before introducing it to the stable version of WhatsApp. As with other beta features, some users may receive access earlier than others.
The feature may also be introduced differently depending on local regulations and account eligibility.
What This Means for WhatsApp Channel Admins
For Channel admins, the feature could make AI disclosure much easier.
Instead of explaining in every post that a particular image or video was generated or edited using AI, admins could use a standardized platform label.
It could also help build trust with followers by making the origin of media clearer.
For admins operating in countries with AI transparency rules, the feature could become even more important if WhatsApp eventually makes disclosure mandatory for certain types of content.
Final Thoughts
WhatsApp’s reported AI content label for iOS Channels is another sign that platforms are adapting to the rapid growth of AI-generated media.
The feature would give Channel admins a simple way to identify AI-created or AI-edited images, videos and other media, while allowing followers to see that disclosure directly on the update.
For now, the feature remains limited to selected beta testers, and WhatsApp hasn’t confirmed when it will reach the stable iOS app or exactly which countries will require the disclosure.
If the testing goes smoothly, however, AI content labels could become a standard part of how WhatsApp Channels handle synthetic media in the future.