Key facts
- Kunal Shah said WhatsApp will make voice notes, groups, stickers and video simpler and more expressive.
- Shah said WhatsApp is working with financial services and telecom partners on bill payment, loans and eSIM purchases.
- Shah said AI should help users find information, complete tasks and avoid missing bookings or appointments.
- WhatsApp's existing AI assistant can summarize messages and create drafts, according to the report.
- Shah said personal messages and calls remain end-to-end encrypted and that this will not change.
Kunal Shah, who took over leadership of WhatsApp's development from Will Cathcart in 2026, said in a note shared on November 10, 2026, that the messaging app should become simpler to use. He wrote that WhatsApp will make voice notes, groups, stickers and video "simpler and more expressive," according to the note.
Shah also said WhatsApp is working with financial services and telecom partners so that tasks such as paying a bill, borrowing money or staying connected while traveling can be completed with fewer steps. The note did not name any partners or give a timeline. WhatsApp has previously built features that let users explore products and make purchases.
On artificial intelligence, Shah said the app should "quickly find what you need, get things done, and make sure you never miss a booking or an appointment." WhatsApp already offers an AI assistant that can summarize messages and draft replies. The report said it was not clear whether the company would use its Muse agent to gather information and send reminders.
Shah said personal messages and calls on WhatsApp remain end-to-end encrypted, meaning only the sender and recipient can read them, and that this would not change. He also said people send more than 10 billion voice messages and more than 4 billion stickers on WhatsApp every day.