WhatsApp rolls out major holiday update with new calling, chat and AI features

WhatsApp has rolled out a wide-ranging year-end update, introducing new tools aimed at making holiday conversations livelier, smoother and more interactive. The latest release includes upgrades across calls, chats, Status, desktop features and AI-assisted image creation, with many additions already reaching users globally.

One of the most practical changes is the introduction of missed call messages, giving users the ability to leave a quick voice or video note when someone doesn’t answer. The feature works as a faster, modern take on voicemail, offering a simple way to share context or greetings during the busy holiday season when calls often go unanswered.

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Group communication is also getting a noticeable lift. WhatsApp has enhanced its voice chats, a format designed to let groups converse without ringing every member’s device, by adding emoji reactions. The addition makes it possible to acknowledge someone or respond in real time without interrupting the conversation. Video calls are becoming easier to follow too, thanks to speaker spotlighting, which automatically highlights whoever is talking during large group calls.

The chat interface is seeing several creative and functional upgrades. Meta AI image generation within WhatsApp now delivers higher-quality visuals powered by improved models from Midjourney and Flux. Users can generate more realistic or expressive images for greetings and posts, and a new animation feature lets them convert standard photos into short videos for more dynamic messaging. Desktop users benefit from a new media tab that gathers files, links and images from all chats into one organized view, along with cleaner link previews that reduce clutter.

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Status and Channels are also gaining richer engagement tools. New interactive stickers, including music lyrics, questions and tap-to-respond formats, offer more expressive ways to post updates. Channel owners can now enable question prompts to collect audience responses directly within their broadcast streams.

WhatsApp says this festive-season bundle is only part of what it plans to release, with more updates set to arrive in the coming weeks. The latest features reflect the platform’s broader push toward increasing expressiveness, simplifying navigation and expanding its growing set of AI-powered tools for everyday communication.