logo
WhatsApp To Use Apple-Like Privacy Computing Tech To Process AI Chats: What It Means

WhatsApp To Use Apple-Like Privacy Computing Tech To Process AI Chats: What It Means

News1801-05-2025

Last Updated:
WhatsApp AI features run through Meta servers and now the platform is getting a big privacy upgrade that promises better safety.
WhatsApp offers a wide range of AI features thanks to Meta but users are worried about its plans to process data on the cloud server. Now, the company has officially confirmed its privacy plans for the AI chats and promises Apple-like security measures to keep your data secure even while processing it on the cloud.
People often seek on-device processing for AI features for additional privacy but as Apple has realised, the abilities are limited and now Meta is feeling the same impact. So, it has decided to set up a private computing cloud system that tries to do the best of both worlds and keep your data secure.
Meta is calling the new computing system Private Processing. The company says this allows the AI tools to work privately on the cloud and users don't have to be concerned about their data being exposed during the process.
WhatsApp AI tools like message summaries and writing suggestions will be put to test through the new privacy computing system. But that's just the gist of the feature so Meta has decided to walk us through the step-by-step process of how AI tools will work securely:
When you use any of the AI tools on WhatsApp, the messaging sends the request to Meta's cloud server
The server makes sure the request is coming from a genuine WhatsApp user and device.
Meta encrypts the feature request and anonymises it so that neither WhatsApp or Meta can identify the user.
WhatsApp users don't need to do anything different to get this feature which will be rolling out behind the scenes over the next few weeks. As we mentioned, AI summaries and writing suggestions will be the first ones to get the privacy upgrade with others to be gradually added in due course.
First Published:
May 01, 2025, 11:21 IST

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Under fire, Sarvam AI co-founder says worries about Indic GenAI model premature
Under fire, Sarvam AI co-founder says worries about Indic GenAI model premature

Time of India

time6 hours ago

  • Time of India

Under fire, Sarvam AI co-founder says worries about Indic GenAI model premature

Chennai/Bengaluru: India's latest home-grown generative AI language model, Sarvam-M, has drawn fire from sections of the developer community for what they describe as "under-whelming" performance. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now But Pratyush Kumar, co-founder of Sarvam AI, insists the scepticism is premature and betrays a misunderstanding of how AI frontier models mature. "The ecosystem is early and people are worried too early," he tells TOI. "We are scrambling amongst ourselves when the world moves fast. We want to create an AI ecosystem where more people can positively collaborate." Released this month, the relatively small 24-billion-parameter Sarvam-M model was trained to reason across ten Indian languages while tackling maths and coding tasks. Kumar says benchmarks on Hugging Face (a platform and open-source library primarily used for leveraging machine learning models) show the model matching or outscoring popular open-source rivals (like Meta's Llama, Mistral Small and Gemma 3) in mathematics, programming and Indic-language comprehension. "With this we want to show that we cracked post-training (process of refining and optimising a machine learning model after its initial training phase) problems and our methodology is comparable with other models," he explains. "We open-sourced this because we want to show that such a model can be built and encourage other people to do it." Much of the social-media push-back has centred on relatively modest early-stage download numbers and the perception that Sarvam-M offers few breakthrough capabilities. Kumar counters that India's sovereign-AI ambitions demand more than one blockbuster release. "These things involve both scientific explorations and resource consumption," he says. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "I think we are on the path to building state-of-the-art models. " Sarvam AI is the first startup chosen to build a frontier model under the government's IndiaAI Mission, which is funding compute, data and research partnerships to reduce reliance on overseas platforms. Although the latest model is a private effort separate from the IndiaAI Mission, Kumar says the initiative will benefit everyone. He declines to give a timeline for the AI Mission-backed foundation model, noting that the company has yet to receive graphics-processing units (GPUs) from government suppliers. "We will open-source the foundational model," he says, but warns that schedules depend on hardware access and collaborative research cycles. Industry weighs in Seasoned AI practitioners say early criticism overlooks the scale of what Sarvam is attempting. "Building a 24-billion-parameter model in India is not easy, especially when deep research isn't encouraged in most universities or companies," says Jaspreet Bindra, co-founder of consultancy AI&Beyond. "Sarvam-M demonstrates robust multilingual reasoning by supporting ten Indian languages – no other model in the world has such a strong Indic component. " Sourabh Deorah, CEO & co-founder of an AI-powered employee engagement and rewards platform, says that as someone deeply involved in machine learning, he understands how challenging it is to create a 24-bn parameter model that not only handles reasoning tasks like math and programming but also delivers high-quality performance across multiple Indian languages – many of which have long been underserved in the AI space. Piyush Goel, CEO & founder of IT consulting company Beyond Key, says that the new model's potential to drive agentic AI in education, healthcare, and automation is exciting. Agentic AI is a type of AI that makes decisions and takes actions based on context and objectives without constant human intervention. Karthikeyan G, senior director of engineering architecture at software company Ascendion, says Sarvam-M's architecture will enable AI agents to interact among themselves (to take complex decisions) thanks to the standardised protocols being used. This will be crucial for the next stage of the AI wave.

Aristotle would scoff at Mark Zuckerberg's suggestion that AI can solve the loneliness epidemic
Aristotle would scoff at Mark Zuckerberg's suggestion that AI can solve the loneliness epidemic

Scroll.in

time10 hours ago

  • Scroll.in

Aristotle would scoff at Mark Zuckerberg's suggestion that AI can solve the loneliness epidemic

Mark Zuckerberg recently suggested that AI chatbots could combat social isolation by serving as 'friends' for people experiencing loneliness. He cited statistics that the average American has fewer than three friends but yearns for as many as 15. He was close: According to a 2021 report from the Survey Center on American Life, about half of Americans have fewer than four close friends. Zuckerberg then posited that AI could help bridge this gap by providing constant, personalized interactions. 'I would guess that over time we will find the vocabulary as a society to be able to articulate why that is valuable,' he added. Zuckerberg explaining how Meta is creating personalized AI friends to supplement your real ones: 'The average American has 3 friends, but has demand for 15.' — Roman Helmet Guy (@romanhelmetguy) April 30, 2025 Loneliness and social disconnection are serious problems. But can AI really be a solution? Might relying on AI for emotional support create a false sense of connection and possibly exacerbate feelings of isolation? And while AI can simulate certain aspects of companionship, doesn't it lack the depth, empathy and mutual understanding inherent to human friendship? Researchers have started exploring these questions. But as a moral philosopher, I think it's worth turning to a different source: the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle. Though it might seem odd to consult someone who lived over 2,000 years ago on questions of modern technology, Aristotle offers enduring insights about friendships – and which ones are particularly valuable. More important than spouses, kids or money In his philosophical text Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle maintained that true friendship is essential for 'eudaimonia,' a Greek word that is typically translated as 'flourishing' or 'well-being.' For Aristotle, friends are not just nice to have – they're a central component of ethical living and essential for human happiness and fulfillment. 'Without friends, no one would choose to live,' he writes, 'though he had all other goods.' A solitary existence, even one of contemplation and intellectual achievement, is less complete than a life with friends. Friendship contributes to happiness by providing emotional support and solidarity. It is through friendship that individuals can cultivate their virtues, feel a sense of security and share their accomplishments. Empirical evidence seems to support the connection between friendship and eudaimonia. A 2023 Pew Center research report found that 61 per cent of adults in the US say having close friends is essential to living a fulfilling life – a higher proportion than those who cited marriage, children or money. A British study of 6,500 adults found that those who had regular interactions with a wide circle of friends were more likely to have better mental health and be happier. And a meta-analysis of nearly 150 studies found that a lack of close friends can increase the risk of death as much as smoking, drinking or obesity. Different friends for different needs But the benefit of friendship that Aristotle focuses on the most is the role that it plays in the development of virtue. The first tier is what he calls 'friendships of utility,' or a friendship that is based on mutual benefit. Each party is primarily concerned with what they can gain from the other. These might be colleagues at work or neighbours who look after each other's pets when one of them is on vacation. The problem with these friendships is that they are often fleeting and dissolve once one person stops benefiting from the relationship. The second is 'friendships of pleasure,' which are friendships based on shared interests. These friendships can also be transient, depending on how long the shared interests last. Passionate love affairs, people belonging to the same book club and fishing buddies all fall into this category. This type of friendship is important, since you tend to enjoy your passions more when you can share them with another person. But this is still not the highest form of friendship. According to Aristotle, the third and strongest form of friendship is a 'virtuous friendship.' This is based on mutual respect for each other's virtues and character. Two people with this form of friendship value each other for who they truly are and share a deep commitment to the well-being and moral development of one another. These friendships are stable and enduring. In a virtuous friendship, each individual helps the other become better versions of themselves through encouragement, moral guidance and support. As Aristotle writes: 'Perfect friendship is the friendship of men who are good and alike in virtue. … Now those who wish well to their friends for their sake are most truly friends; for they do this by reason of their own nature and not incidentally; therefore their friendship lasts as long as they are good – and goodness is an enduring thing.' In other words, friendships rooted in virtue not only bring happiness and fulfilment but also facilitate personal growth and moral development. And it happens naturally within the context of the relationship. According to Aristotle, a virtuous friend provides a mirror in which one can reflect upon their own actions, thoughts and decisions. When one friend demonstrates honesty, generosity or compassion, the other can learn from these actions and be inspired to cultivate these virtues in themselves. No nourishment for the soul So, what does this mean for AI friends? By Aristotle's standards, AI chatbots – however sophisticated – cannot be true friends. They may be able to provide information that helps you at work, or engage in lighthearted conversation about your various interests. But they fundamentally lack qualities that define a virtuous friendship. AI is incapable of mutual concern or genuine reciprocity. While it can be programmed to simulate empathy or encouragement, it does not truly care about the individual – nor does it ask anything of its human users. Moreover, AI cannot engage in the shared pursuit of the good life. Aristotle's notion of friendship involves a shared journey on the path to eudaimonia, during which each person helps another live wisely and well. This requires the kind of moral development that only human beings, who face real ethical challenges and make real decisions, can undergo. I think it is best to think of AI as a tool. Just like having a good shovel or rake can improve your quality of life, having the rake and the shovel do not mean you no longer need any friends – nor do they replace the friends whose shovels and rakes you used to borrow. While AI may offer companionship in a limited and functional sense, it cannot meet the Aristotelian criteria for virtuous friendship. It may fill a temporary social void, but it cannot nourish the soul. If anything, the rise of AI companions should serve as a reminder of the urgent need to foster real friendships in an increasingly disconnected world.

The challenges behind producing iPhones in the U.S. – and why it's unlikely
The challenges behind producing iPhones in the U.S. – and why it's unlikely

Hans India

time11 hours ago

  • Hans India

The challenges behind producing iPhones in the U.S. – and why it's unlikely

In 2011, President Barack Obama asked Apple cofounder Steve Jobs what it would take to shift iPhone assembly back to the United States. Fast-forward 14 years: former President Donald Trump is resurrecting that same question with Apple's current CEO, Tim Cook. Trump has threatened a 25 percent tariff on Apple—and other smartphone makers—unless they build every iPhone sold in the U.S. domestically. 'I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhones that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else,' Trump posted on Truth Social. 'If that is not the case, a tariff of at least 25 percent must be paid by Apple to the U.S.' Earlier this month, Cook confirmed that most iPhones bound for American customers will ship from India. That response underscores a tough reality: reassembling the iPhone's global supply chain on U.S. soil would dramatically upend how Apple produces its most profitable device. A Well-Oiled Overseas Manufacturing Ecosystem Currently, Apple relies heavily on factories in China and—more recently—India, where a specialized workforce has been honed to assemble millions of iPhones every year. Foxconn, Apple's long-standing manufacturing partner, employs up to 900,000 people at peak production. Their vast campuses, complete with dormitories and on-site support services, allow Foxconn to rapidly adjust output to match Apple's exacting timelines. 'China already has sprawling facilities designed specifically for electronics assembly,' notes Dipanjan Chatterjee, vice president and principal analyst at Forrester. In these plants, teams of workers focus on narrow, highly skilled tasks—often programming industrial robots or performing precision component installation. That level of specialization and scale cannot simply be duplicated overnight in the U.S. David Marcotte, senior vice president at Kantar, adds: 'Each step of the iPhone's assembly requires expertise developed over many years. Replicating that on American soil would be an immense challenge.' Labor and Skills Gap Manufacturing in the United States today looks very different than it did in the latter half of the 20th century. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 8 percent of American workers were employed in manufacturing as of early 2025—down from roughly 26 percent in 1970. Moreover, modern factories increasingly rely on a blend of robotics, data analytics, and coding skills—areas where China and India currently hold an edge when it comes to electronics production. Carolyn Lee, executive director of the Manufacturing Institute, explains that 'the job has very much changed. Workers today need training in programming, data analysis, and advanced machine operations.' Apple CEO Tim Cook has echoed that point: at a 2017 Fortune event, he said that China offered a rare combination of 'craftsmanship, sophisticated robotics, and software talent.' He warned that meeting Apple's exacting standards without that unique mix would be nearly impossible. President Trump's Onshoring Push One of Trump's central economic objectives has been to bring manufacturing back to the United States. Within the first months of his second term, he levied tariffs on broad categories of imported goods, hoping to incentivize companies to build products domestically. Trump's threat of a 25 percent tariff on smartphones sold in the U.S. would, if enforced, make iPhones significantly more expensive for American consumers—or cut deeply into Apple's profit margins. Cook reportedly met with Trump last week to discuss these proposals. Trump, for his part, hailed Apple's February commitment to invest $500 billion in U.S. operations over the next four years—money earmarked for R&D, data-center facilities, and a Detroit 'Academy' to teach small and mid-sized businesses about advanced manufacturing and AI tools. Taiwan's TSMC has similarly pledged $100 billion to build or expand American chip-making plants, which Trump called a 'political win' onshoring U.S. tech production. Yet Apple's February announcement does not include training a workforce capable of iPhone-scale assembly. Instead, the Detroit academy will focus on helping other businesses adopt 'smart manufacturing' practices—not on building the trained, highly specialized labor pool that Foxconn has cultivated over decades in Asia. What It Would Take to Build in America Several analysts believe that Apple could shift at least part of its iPhone assembly to the U.S. within five years—but only by fundamentally changing the way each device is put together. Patrick Moorhead, founder and CEO of Moor Insights & Strategy, says Apple would need to introduce far more automation to offset the higher labor costs and skill gaps. That could mean redesigning certain elements—glue application, component placement, or precision machining—to be driven by robotic arms rather than hand-assembly. Ultrahuman, a smart health ring startup, offers a real-world example. CEO Mohit Kumar told CNN that when Ultrahuman moved production of its wearable from India to Texas last November, it leaned heavily on automation and cross-training workers to perform multiple tasks like casting and polishing. Even so, Ultrahuman accepts that mass-producing millions of units at the level Apple requires is a far bigger undertaking. Many core iPhone components—chips, camera modules, displays—still originate with suppliers based in China, Taiwan, South Korea, and elsewhere in Asia. Shifting assembly alone would break the synergy of having suppliers clustered near one another, intensifying logistical hurdles and rising freight costs. Dan Ives, global head of technology research at Wedbush Securities, estimates that 90 percent of iPhone production currently takes place in China; as recently as last year, that figure dipped to about 40 percent only after Apple began ramping up in India. Ives warns that assembling the iPhone in the U.S. might triple the device's price. Even if Apple were willing to redesign the iPhone for greater automation, recruit and retrain thousands of American factory workers, and reorganize its supplier network, the company would face significant political pressure from both sides. Trump's tariffs risk imposing punishing costs on Apple, but CEOs and shareholders alike may balk at the price increases or margin squeeze such a move would entail. A Tightrope Walk Forrester's Chatterjee sums up Apple's quandary: 'You cannot realistically, from an economic standpoint, bring iPhone production to the U.S., and you also can't simply refuse to do it.' Apple must carefully navigate between appeasing political demands to onshore manufacturing and preserving the cost efficiencies that keep iPhone prices competitive. At this point, the consensus among analysts is clear: Apple will continue to expand production in India and maintain its China base. Until there's a seismic shift in labor availability, automation technology, or supply-chain structure, making iPhones in America remains more aspiration than reality.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store