WhatsApp, a leading global social media platform, has revealed plans to integrate with Meta Quest headsets, aiming to offer a Virtual Reality (VR) experience to its users. This information surfaced through a recent update in the beta version of the Android app, hinting at a new era of social communication.
In an ambitious move, WhatsApp is designing a new feature that will connect users’ accounts with their Meta Quest devices. This integration, as seen in the latest beta version update, 2.23.13.6, points towards a significant shift towards VR social interaction. This news follows the footsteps of Mark Zuckerberg’s announcement of the Meta Quest 3 and price drops for previous headset models.
The integration of WhatsApp and Quest represents a crucial step in Meta’s mission to expand its VR hardware market and establish the metaverse concept. Users who were previously trying to install WhatsApp on VR devices through unofficial means can soon expect a smooth, official experience directly from their headsets.
Compatibility with Smart Glasses
Continuing its tech-friendly updates, WhatsApp recently hinted at improving compatibility with Ray-Ban Stories smart glasses. With a future update, users will be able to send messages directly from these smart glasses, adding a new layer to wearable tech communication.
Along with the VR integration, WhatsApp introduced a feature that provides users more control over their sent messages. Users can now edit their messages within a 15-minute window after sending. While the edited messages carry an ‘edited’ tag, the history of changes remains hidden, providing the users with an opportunity to rectify mistakes or add more context.
In related news, whispers around Meta subsidiaries suggest that Instagram is considering the introduction of 30-personality AI chatbots. These bots are predicted to increase user engagement by answering queries, providing advice, and assisting in message writing.