WhatsApp has begun testing an AI-powered photo expansion feature for iPhone users, allowing photographs to be resized for full-screen vertical viewing without cropping. The tool, currently available to select beta testers via TestFlight, uses Meta AI to generate additional visual content around the edges of an existing image.
How the AI expansion tool functions
The feature is integrated directly into the application’s drawing editor, which appears when a user selects a photo for a chat or a Status update. By choosing the expand option, which sits alongside existing AI effects, users allow Meta AI to analyze the photograph and generate new pixels to fill the frame. Unlike simple stretching, the tool reads the image context to create content that serves as a natural extension of the original scene.
WhatsApp is testing a Meta AI-powered photo expansion tool for some iOS beta users, integrated into its drawing editor. iPhone users with Apple Intelligence can select Expand in chats or status updates; pinch or drag past the original image and Meta AI fills the new area,…
The process is designed to be non-destructive. After Meta AI spends a few seconds analyzing the photograph, the generated result appears in the editor, where it can be reviewed before sharing. If the AI-generated background does not meet a user’s expectations, they can use an undo button to restore the original photograph and attempt the process again to generate a different variation. This utility is particularly useful for converting square or horizontal images into a 9:16 aspect ratio, ensuring photos fit the vertical interface of Status updates without leaving empty black bars.
However, the tool has limitations. Because it relies on AI interpretation, complex elements such as architectural structures, reflections, or people may result in inconsistencies. Furthermore, the feature is most effective when the edges of the original image contain high-quality content; if the borders are blurry or empty, the AI has less information to work with. Users are encouraged to inspect generated images carefully, especially when photographic accuracy is a priority.
Rollout reaches beta users on iOS and Android
The expansion tool is currently rolling out to users participating in the WhatsApp beta program. While access is primarily limited to these testers, some users running the public version of the application from the App Store have also reported receiving the update. The feature was identified in WhatsApp beta for iOS version 26.44.10.16.
Testing is simultaneously occurring on the Android platform. WhatsApp has introduced the feature to select Android beta testers through version 2.26.44.8. Beta users are advised to update to the latest version from the Google Play Store to check for availability on their accounts.
Context within Meta’s AI integration
This development is part of a trend of integrating generative AI into everyday messaging. Similar tools already exist in the industry; for example, iPhone owners with Apple Intelligence have access to a native “Extend” tool in the Photos app, and platforms like Adobe Photoshop and ChatGPT offer comparable generative expansion capabilities.
WhatsApp’s implementation is notable for its placement within the sending flow, aiming to bring advanced image processing directly to mobile users. This follows a string of previous AI rollouts, including AI image generation for Status updates launched in October 2025 and ongoing tests for AI-made profile photos and group icons. As Meta continues to embed these features across its ecosystem, the company is effectively lowering the barrier for high-quality image editing, though it remains unclear if these expanded images will carry specific labels identifying them as AI-edited when shared with recipients.