WhatsApp developing AI call filter for unknown numbers

WhatsApp is developing a new call-filtering feature for Android designed to screen calls from unknown numbers. The tool aims to reduce spam and fraudulent calls while preventing users from missing legitimate communications, such as those from couriers or medical providers.

The feature, identified in recent Android beta builds, will offer three distinct privacy settings: disabling the filter entirely, maintaining the current behavior of silencing all unknown callers, or utilizing an automated screening system. Under the new screening option, the application will automatically answer the call and ask the caller to state their purpose.

To protect user privacy and maintain end-to-end encryption, the transcription of the caller's response will be processed locally on the device using language packs. This approach ensures that audio data is not transmitted to external servers. An official launch date for the feature has not yet been announced.