WhatsApp's generative AI image expansion feature is now rolling out to Apple devices. Following an initial testing phase on Android, iOS users running the latest TestFlight beta can access the beta and share their feedback.
Reported first by WABetaInfo, the Expand feature is rolling out in WhatsApp TestFlight beta build 26.44.10.16 and is associated with the app's built-in drawing editor.
When a user selects a photo that doesn't natively fit the standard full-screen dimensions (common with 1:1 photos), a new "expand" option will appear alongside the usual filters and cropping tools.
Once activated, Meta AI scans the original image and generates new content around the edges to extend the photo into a vertically stretched 9:16 aspect ratio.
Rather than simply stretching the image and distorting the subject, the AI attempts to generate the background based on the context of the original borders.
The primary benefit of this tool is for WhatsApp Status updates. Instead of a landscape photo appearing between massive black bars, users can now generate a full-screen vertical image without needing to use an online image extender or any other third-party tools.
More importantly, the tool is non-destructive. This means it first shows the newly generated image in a separate editor so that users can decide whether they want to keep it. If the results are not on par with expectations, users can hit the undo button and prompt the AI to try again.
The feature is currently available to a limited pool of beta testers, with a broader rollout expected in the coming weeks. Similarly, the feature is yet to fully roll out to Android Beta testers, and a stable release looks quite far.
Recently, WhatsApp added support for EPFO and is soon expected to add a receiver-requested location-sharing feature for seamless location sharing. More features could be on the horizon, and to hear about them first, stay tuned.
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