WhatsApp has started testing a new photo enlargement tool powered by Meta AI for Android users. This feature, noticed in WhatsApp beta version 2.26.33.2, allows users to enlarge their photos to a 9:16 format without any loss of quality.

This new AI tool, which will be integrated into the drawing editor, analyzes and completes the gaps at the edges of the image without distorting the new content. Currently under development and not yet available to beta testers, this new feature aims to make the full-screen experience, especially optimized for status updates, much more practical.

Photos are converted to full-screen size with AI.

WhatsApp’s recent updates show that the application has become more than just a messaging platform; It has become a comprehensive media editing tool. In addition to previously offered options such as 3D effects, anime filters, and background changing, a photo expansion feature is now being added.

The new tool allows users to directly convert their photos to a vertical format without cropping or reshaping them.

With traditional systems, fitting a square or horizontal photo onto a vertical screen often requires cropping part of the image. However, the new Meta AI-based analysis preserves visual integrity by expanding the edges of the image using artificial intelligence. This allows users to achieve a more aesthetically pleasing look in their status updates.

The Editing Process Works Quite Practically

Users will open the existing drawing editor to use this feature. When the expand option, located in the filters section, is selected, Meta AI quickly analyzes the content of the photo. As a result of a process of a few seconds, the photo appears expanded to cover the entire vertical screen.

The Feature is Designed for Both Chats and Statuses

WhatsApp is expected to make this function available for both personal chats and status updates. However, considering the development process, it seems highly likely that the feature will first be enabled in status updates, where the vertical format is most heavily used.

In later stages, this capability will also be integrated into photo sharing in individual chats.

AI performs the expansion process by claiming the surrounding area without disrupting the image’s original structure.

Development Process Not Yet Complete

Currently, this feature is only available in WhatsApp’s internal tests and is not yet accessible to general beta users. The company has not yet made an official statement regarding which regions or when this feature will be made generally available.

However, these new editing capabilities offered by the application increasingly demonstrate Meta’s expertise in image editing.

Do you think WhatsApp’s AI-based photo expansion feature will make your status updates more appealing? Are you excited to try this new editing tool, or do you prefer classic cropping methods? Share your opinions with us in the comments.