WhatsApp finally makes major change fans have been begging for
We all have that friend that loves to send voice messages, but sometimes you're in a loud environment, on the go, or simply can't be bothered to sit and listen to something that would take you a couple of seconds to read.
Maybe you're that friend, even, and you're tired of getting delayed responses to your messages, but you just can't stray away from your trusty voice notes.
While stylish refreshes and time-saving upgrades have made the WhatsApp experience better, there is one feature that most users have been begging for - and it's finally on its way.
WhatsApp has now finally introduced what they're calling 'Voice Message Transcripts', which allow you to create a transcription instantly of any voice notes that you receive.
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That ranges from the three second long snippets that you'd love to listen to but you can't, to the three minute long spiels that frankly nobody has time for.
While it's only available in a select few languages at the moment, WhatsApp are continuing to work on adding more over the coming months.
All you need to do to activate this game-changing feature is:
- Open up WhatsApp and press the three dots in the top right
- Head to 'Settings', then 'Chats', and then finally 'Voice message transcripts'
- Turn it on, and then select your desired transcript language
Once you've activated it in the settings menu you simply then need to press and hold on any voice message and select 'transcribe' to let the new feature work its magic.
If the option isn't showing up for you then you might not have received the update yet, but it should be with you very soon.
If you're worried about cybersecurity then you should have no concerns, as WhatsApp have assured that:
"Voice message transcripts are generated on your device, and your personal voice messages remain protected by end-to-end encryption. No one, including WhatsApp, can listen to your voice messages or see the content of your voice message transcripts."
They haven't directly stated what technology they're using to transcript these messages, but it would be safe to presume that it's some form of AI speech-to-text software that many other automated transcription services use.
Many social media users have expressed their frustration that this feature didn't exist before, driving some to even create their own bots that do the transcription for them.
One post on the r/android subreddit regarding the announcement of the update is filled with jubilation, with one user detailing that they've "been waiting for this for years."
"Cannot wait to not have to listen to a million 'uhms' and thinking pauses during 5 minute voicememos," cries one commenter, while another argues that voice messages are "always a hassle to respond to, not always easy to listen to, always less succinct."
It's doubtful that this update will lower the number of voice messages you'll receive - quite the contrary, actually - but at least it gives those who hate them with a burning passion a means to simply pretend like they don't exist.