WhatsApp is set to transform the video calling experience with the introduction of a new augmented reality (AR) feature, currently available through the Google Beta Program.
This update, version 2.24.16.7, is presently accessible only to beta testers.
WhatsApp users eager to explore this AR feature can download the latest update from the Google Play Store. However, the feature is in its user testing phase, and only a select few will have the opportunity to try it out.
The new update aims to make video calls more interactive by integrating facial filters and effects. Among the AR effects available to beta testers are a “touch-up tool” for smoothing facial appearances and a “low-light mode” to enhance visibility in dim lighting conditions.
In addition to these features, WhatsApp has introduced a background editing tool. This tool allows users to blur backgrounds they prefer to keep private during video calls or to replace them with various scenes and images available within the app.
It is anticipated that this background feature will also be made available for desktop users.
The blurring effect is expected to be particularly useful during professional meetings and interviews, offering users a polished and distraction-free background.