WhatsApp Could Let Meta AI Expand Any Photo to Fit Status Updates

If you like posting images as status updates on WhatsApp, the inability to fit them to the vertical aspect ratio might have bothered you. A square or landscape photo leaves empty bands at the top and bottom of the screen and cropping them means losing detail. WhatsApp seems to be working on a fix for this and could let Meta AI automatically expand images for Statuses.

WhatsApp Could Leverage Meta AI To Expand Images on Android

The feature was first spotted by WABetaInfo as part of the WhatsApp beta for Android 2.26.33.2 update. As per the report, WhatsApp is developing an AI-powered photo expansion tool that could fit any image into the 9:16 vertical format used for Status updates.

As is evident from the images below, users will need to open a photo in the drawing editor and then scroll down within the filters section to find the editing options. A new "Expand" option will appear alongside the pre-existing Describe, Background and Animate tools.

WhatsApp could be working on an AI tool to expand photos for Status updates — Image Credit: WABetaInfo

Once selected, Meta AI could then proceed to process the image and present the expanded 9:16 version within a few seconds. Users can then share the expanded photo directly as a status update. Users will also be able to run the image expansion process again if they are not satisfied with the initial output.

An important thing to note here is that Meta AI will not simply stretch the photo to fit the vertical format. The AI will analyse the photo and use regenerative features to fill the blank/missing information. This makes the actual image create new information using generative AI.

The above-mentioned process is called outpainting and so far, this has been a feature limited to either AI model chats like Claude and ChatGPT or has existed within photo editing apps like Google Photos. However, with WhatsApp adding Meta AI generative photo expansion feature within the messaging app itself, turn it into a full-fledged communication cum editing platform.

The drawing editor tool inside WhatsApp already offers a bunch of Meta AI tools like artistic style edits, the ability to add or remove elements, reimagining a composition through a text prompt and animating a static photo. Hence, the photo expansion tool will fit right into Meta AI's suite of editing features inside WhatsApp.

That said, the Meta AI expand photos feature is currently under development and it is unclear when the tool will be available to beta testers. WhatsApp has also not shared when the feature will reach public builds. We can expect access to expand more widely in the coming weeks. So, stay tuned.